How severe is CVE-1999-0491?

CVE-1999-0491 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-1999-0491 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (56th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-1999-0491?

CVE-1999-0491 primarily affects Gnu Bash. In total, 17 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-1999-0491?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-1999-0491 published?

CVE-1999-0491 was published on 1999-04-20 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-1999-0491

CVE-1999-0491 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Bash with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-94.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 4.6)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (56th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-94
Affected product: Gnu Bash
Published: 1999-04-20
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The prompt parsing in bash allows a local user to execute commands as another user by creating a directory with the name of the command to execute.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-1999-0491?: The prompt parsing in bash allows a local user to execute commands as another user by creating a directory with the name of the command to execute.
How severe is CVE-1999-0491?: CVE-1999-0491 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-1999-0491 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (56th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-1999-0491?: CVE-1999-0491 primarily affects Gnu Bash. In total, 17 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-1999-0491?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-1999-0491 published?: CVE-1999-0491 was published on 1999-04-20 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (17)

cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.01.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.02.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.03:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.05:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.05:a:*:*:*:*:*:*

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