CVE-2001-0188 in FTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
GoodTech FTP server 3.0.1.2.1.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a flood of connections to the server, which causes it to crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0188 represents a classic denial of service attack vector targeting the GoodTech FTP server version 3.0.1.2.1.0 and earlier installations. This security flaw manifests when remote attackers exploit the server's connection handling mechanisms through what is termed a connection flood attack. The attack methodology involves establishing numerous simultaneous connections to the FTP server with the intent of overwhelming its capacity to manage these requests. The specific technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate connection management and resource allocation within the server's architecture, particularly in how it processes and maintains active connection states. The flaw operates at the network protocol level where the FTP service fails to properly handle excessive connection attempts, leading to resource exhaustion and subsequent system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the overall availability and reliability of the affected FTP infrastructure. When the server crashes due to connection flooding, legitimate users experience immediate denial of service, preventing normal file transfer operations and potentially disrupting business continuity for organizations relying on the affected FTP service. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication or advanced technical knowledge, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed by virtually any remote attacker. This characteristic aligns with the common threat model where attackers leverage simple yet effective techniques to compromise service availability, often as a preliminary step in more complex attack campaigns.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper resource management and connection limiting mechanisms within network services. The flaw represents a failure in the server's robustness against adversarial behavior, specifically in handling abnormal connection patterns. According to the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) framework, this vulnerability would be classified under CWE-400, which deals with resource exhaustion vulnerabilities, and potentially CWE-1321 for improper handling of exceptional conditions in network services. The attack pattern fits within the ATT&CK framework's service stop procedures, where adversaries target availability by disrupting network services through resource exhaustion techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing connection rate limiting and maximum connection thresholds within the FTP server configuration. Network administrators should deploy firewall rules to restrict the number of simultaneous connections from individual IP addresses and implement connection tracking mechanisms to identify and block abusive connection patterns. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the GoodTech FTP server that includes proper resource management and connection handling improvements. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring systems to detect unusual connection patterns that could indicate an impending attack, enabling proactive response measures before full service disruption occurs.