# CVE-1999-0173: Server-side request forgery in n/a

> Remote attackers can use the FormMail CGI program to send emails via arbitrary web servers, bypassing intended host restrictions.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Sep 1999
- **Updated:** 1 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jw47-w8q9-cxg3

## What is CVE-1999-0173?

CVE-1999-0173 is a medium-severity server-side request forgery vulnerability in n/a, published on 29 Sep 1999. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

FormMail CGI program can be used by web servers other than the host server that the program resides on.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-1999-0173?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Matt Wright Formmail.

## How do I fix CVE-1999-0173?

No fix has been published for CVE-1999-0173 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-1999-0173 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-1999-0173 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Matt Wright FormMail 1.x - Cross-Site Request Forgery (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2002-2109](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-2109/): Security feature bypass in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2001-0357](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0357/): Other in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-1999-0172](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-1999-0172/): Command injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2009-1777](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1777/): Other in n/a (medium 5.0)
- [CVE-2002-1771](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-1771/): Other in n/a (medium 5.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-1999-0173 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-1999-0173 is a medium-severity server-side request forgery vulnerability in n/a, published on 29 Sep 1999. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-1999-0173 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-1999-0173/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-1999-0173/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-1999-0173
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-1999-0173
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-1999-0173

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-1999-0173/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.