CVE-2000-0044 in WarFTPd
Summary
by MITRE
Macros in War FTP 1.70 and 1.67b2 allow local or remote attackers to read arbitrary files or execute commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0044 represents a critical security flaw in the War FTP server versions 1.70 and 1.67b2 that stems from improper handling of macro processing within the application's file transfer functionality. This issue allows both local and remote attackers to exploit the system through malicious macro execution, creating a significant attack surface that can be leveraged for unauthorized access and system compromise.
The technical flaw manifests in the way the War FTP server processes macro commands during file operations, particularly when handling user input that is interpreted as executable code. When users interact with the FTP server through macro-enabled interfaces, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters, enabling attackers to inject malicious commands that are then executed with the privileges of the FTP service account. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct network connections or through compromised client systems that interact with the vulnerable server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as attackers can leverage the macro execution capability to perform arbitrary command execution on the affected system. This creates a persistent threat that can be used to establish backdoors, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the compromised server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects both local and remote attack scenarios, meaning that an attacker could potentially exploit it from outside the network or from within a compromised local system. The implications for network security are significant as this vulnerability can serve as a foothold for broader attacks within a network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0044 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected War FTP server versions, as this represents the most effective solution to address the underlying macro processing flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate vulnerable FTP servers from critical network segments and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious macro execution patterns. Additionally, access controls should be implemented to restrict both local and remote access to the FTP service, and security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized macro usage. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-74 which describes improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component, and represents a classic example of command injection that could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper sanitization of user-supplied data in server applications, particularly those that process user-defined macros or scripts. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized macros and establish robust logging mechanisms to track macro usage patterns for security analysis purposes.