CVE-2000-0870 in EFTP
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in EFTP allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a long string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0870 represents a classic buffer overflow flaw within the EFTP (Extended File Transfer Protocol) implementation that exposes systems to remote denial of service attacks. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the protocol handler, specifically when processing user-supplied data strings that exceed predetermined buffer limits. The flaw operates at the application layer where the EFTP service fails to properly bounds-check incoming data before storing it in fixed-size memory buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt service availability.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves sending a specially crafted payload containing an excessively long string to the target EFTP service. When the service attempts to process this oversized input, the buffer overflow occurs as the data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program state information or causing the application to terminate unexpectedly. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions. The operational impact manifests as a complete denial of service condition where legitimate users lose access to file transfer capabilities, while the system may require manual restart or reboot to restore normal operations.
From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on EFTP services for file management and data transfer operations. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the network without requiring local system access or authentication credentials. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks that target availability through protocol manipulation. Systems affected by this vulnerability typically experience service disruption ranging from temporary unavailability to complete system crashes depending on the implementation details and memory corruption extent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0870 should prioritize immediate patching of affected EFTP implementations and implementation of input validation controls to prevent oversized data from reaching vulnerable buffer handling code. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit exposure by restricting access to EFTP services to trusted networks only. Additionally, implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms, using safe string handling functions, and conducting regular security assessments of protocol implementations can prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future deployments. Organizations should also consider migrating to more modern file transfer protocols such as SFTP or FTPS that provide better security guarantees and have fewer known vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that patches do not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the security improvements necessary to address the buffer overflow condition.