CVE-1999-1433 is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability found in HP JetAdmin version D.01.09 running on the Solaris operating system. The vulnerability arises from an insecure handling of the /tmp/jetadmin.log file, which is susceptible to a symbolic link (symlink) attack. Local users can exploit this flaw by creating a symlink that points /tmp/jetadmin.log to an arbitrary file on the system. When JetAdmin modifies the permissions of its log file, it inadvertently changes the permissions of the targeted arbitrary file instead. This allows an attacker with local access to escalate their privileges by altering file permissions, potentially gaining unauthorized read, write, or execute access to sensitive system files. The vulnerability does not require authentication but does require local access to the Solaris system. The CVSS v2 base score is 7.2, reflecting high severity due to the potential for complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C, I, A) of affected systems. No patch is available for this vulnerability, and there are no known exploits in the wild, likely due to its age and the declining use of the affected JetAdmin version and Solaris platform. However, the vulnerability remains relevant for legacy systems still in operation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-1999-1433 can be significant if legacy Solaris systems running HP JetAdmin D.01.09 are still in use, particularly in environments managing HP printers or print servers. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation, allowing attackers to manipulate critical system files, potentially leading to system compromise, data breaches, or disruption of printing services. This could affect confidentiality by exposing sensitive data, integrity by allowing unauthorized modifications, and availability by disrupting printing infrastructure. Organizations in sectors with stringent data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, could face regulatory and reputational damage if such vulnerabilities are exploited. Although the vulnerability requires local access, insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds could leverage this to escalate privileges further.

Given the absence of an official patch, European organizations should consider the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately restrict local access to Solaris systems running HP JetAdmin to trusted personnel only, employing strict access controls and monitoring. 2) Implement file system monitoring on /tmp/jetadmin.log and related directories to detect suspicious symlink creation or permission changes. 3) Where possible, replace or upgrade HP JetAdmin to a more recent, supported version or alternative print management solutions that do not have this vulnerability. 4) Employ mandatory access control (MAC) frameworks available on Solaris, such as Solaris Trusted Extensions, to limit the ability of processes and users to create or follow symlinks in sensitive directories. 5) Regularly audit system logs and user activities to detect early signs of exploitation attempts. 6) Consider isolating legacy systems from critical network segments to reduce the risk of lateral movement by attackers. 7) Educate system administrators about the risks of symlink attacks and the importance of secure file handling practices.