CVE-1999-1587 is a vulnerability found in the /usr/ucb/ps utility on Sun Microsystems Solaris operating systems, specifically versions 8 and 9, as well as certain earlier releases. The vulnerability allows local users to leverage the '-e' option of the ps command to view environment variables and their values of arbitrary processes running on the system. Normally, environment variables can contain sensitive information such as configuration details, file paths, or even credentials. The exposure of such information can aid an attacker in further reconnaissance or privilege escalation attempts. This vulnerability requires local access to the system, meaning an attacker must already have some level of access to the Solaris host to exploit it. The vulnerability does not allow modification of data or disruption of service, but it compromises confidentiality by exposing potentially sensitive environment data. The CVSS score assigned is 2.1, indicating a low severity, primarily because the attack vector is local, the complexity is low, no authentication is required beyond local access, and the impact is limited to confidentiality without affecting integrity or availability. No patches are available for this vulnerability, and there are no known exploits in the wild. Given the age of the vulnerability (published in 1999) and the Solaris versions affected, this issue is primarily relevant to legacy systems still running these older Solaris releases.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-1999-1587 is generally limited due to the low severity and requirement for local access. However, organizations that continue to operate legacy Solaris 8 or 9 systems may face confidentiality risks if untrusted users have local access. Exposure of environment variables could reveal sensitive configuration details, credentials, or system paths that could facilitate further attacks or lateral movement within the network. This is particularly concerning for critical infrastructure or sectors with high security requirements, such as finance, energy, or government agencies, where legacy Solaris systems might still be in use. The vulnerability does not directly impact system integrity or availability, but the information disclosure could be a stepping stone for more serious attacks. Given the lack of patches, organizations must rely on compensating controls to mitigate risk.

Since no patches are available for this vulnerability, European organizations should implement strict access controls to limit local user access to Solaris 8 and 9 systems. This includes enforcing the principle of least privilege, ensuring only trusted administrators have shell access. Employing strong authentication mechanisms and monitoring user activity can help detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider isolating legacy Solaris systems from general user networks and restricting access via network segmentation or jump hosts. If feasible, migrating from Solaris 8 and 9 to supported, updated operating systems is the most effective long-term mitigation. For environments where migration is not immediately possible, disabling or restricting the use of the /usr/ucb/ps utility or replacing it with a version that does not expose environment variables could reduce risk. Regular audits of environment variables and system configurations can help identify sensitive data exposure. Finally, educating administrators about this vulnerability and encouraging vigilance in monitoring local user activities will further reduce exploitation risk.