CVE-1999-1073 is a vulnerability found in Excite for Web Servers (EWS) version 1.1, where the software improperly handles password encryption by recording the first two characters of a plaintext password in the beginning of the encrypted password string. This design flaw significantly weakens password security because it leaks partial plaintext information directly within the stored password hash. An attacker who gains access to the encrypted password data can leverage this information to drastically reduce the search space when attempting brute force or dictionary attacks. Instead of guessing the entire password blindly, the attacker already knows the first two characters, making it easier and faster to recover the full password. The vulnerability is classified with a CVSS score of 7.2 (high severity), reflecting the potential for complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C, I, A) of affected systems. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L) and no authentication (Au:N), meaning an attacker with local access to the password storage can exploit this weakness without needing credentials. Although no patches are available and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability remains a critical risk for any environment still running this outdated software. Given the age of the product and vulnerability (published in 1998), it is unlikely to be present in modern deployments, but legacy systems may still be vulnerable. The tags include "rce" (remote code execution), but the description and CVSS vector do not directly indicate RCE capability; the primary risk is password compromise leading to potential further exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be significant if legacy systems running Excite for Web Servers 1.1 are still in use, particularly in sectors with sensitive data such as government, finance, healthcare, or critical infrastructure. Compromise of user passwords could lead to unauthorized access to internal systems, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within networks. The exposure of partial plaintext passwords accelerates password cracking efforts, increasing the risk of credential theft and subsequent identity compromise. This could result in loss of confidentiality of sensitive information, integrity violations through unauthorized changes, and availability disruptions if attackers leverage compromised credentials to deploy malware or disrupt services. Although the vulnerability requires local access to the password storage, insider threats or attackers who have already gained limited footholds could exploit this weakness to escalate privileges or expand access. The lack of available patches means organizations must rely on compensating controls or system upgrades to mitigate risk.

Given that no patches are available for Excite for Web Servers 1.1, European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediate identification and inventory of any systems running EWS 1.1 to assess exposure. 2) Decommission or upgrade legacy EWS installations to modern, supported web server platforms with secure password handling mechanisms. 3) If upgrade is not immediately feasible, restrict local access to password storage files using strict file system permissions and monitoring to prevent unauthorized access. 4) Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the number of users who can reach vulnerable systems or their password stores. 5) Enforce strong password policies and consider multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of password compromise. 6) Monitor logs and system behavior for signs of brute force or unauthorized access attempts. 7) Educate administrators and users about the risks of legacy software and the importance of timely patching or upgrading. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on legacy system identification, access restriction, and compensating controls in the absence of patches.