CVE-2002-1545 in Personal FTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
CooolSoft Personal FTP Server 2.24 allows remote attackers to obtain the absolute pathname of the FTP root via a PWD command, which includes the full path in the response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1545 affects CooolSoft Personal FTP Server version 2.24 and represents a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system path information to remote attackers. This issue manifests through the implementation of the PWD (Print Working Directory) command, which is a standard ftp command used to retrieve the current working directory of the server. The vulnerability specifically arises when the server responds to a PWD command with a detailed response that includes the absolute pathname of the ftp root directory, thereby leaking critical system information that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper output handling that leads to information exposure. When an attacker sends a PWD command to the affected ftp server, the server's response contains the complete file system path to the root directory, potentially revealing directory structures, server configuration details, and other sensitive path information. This information disclosure can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal attempts, path-based privilege escalation, or further reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it provides attackers with direct insight into the server's file system organization without requiring authentication or specific exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of systems running the affected ftp server software. The information disclosure creates opportunities for attackers to map the server's file structure, identify sensitive directories, and potentially locate configuration files, log files, or other system resources that might contain additional sensitive data. The attack surface expands as attackers can now leverage this path information to plan more targeted attacks, such as attempting to access restricted files or directories that might contain credentials, application source code, or system configuration details. This vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as it unnecessarily exposes system internals to unauthorized parties.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can facilitate subsequent attacks within the broader attack chain defined by the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Specifically, this information disclosure could support techniques categorized under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1592 (Gather Victim Host Information), enabling attackers to better understand the target environment before launching more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader reconnaissance phase that could lead to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices where system internals are exposed through standard protocol responses without adequate sanitization or access control measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected software version, as well as implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to ftp services. Organizations should also consider implementing firewall rules to restrict access to ftp servers to trusted networks only, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious ftp activity patterns. Additionally, system administrators should review and sanitize ftp server configurations to ensure that responses to standard commands do not contain sensitive path information. The implementation of proper access controls, regular security audits, and comprehensive monitoring of ftp server activities can help prevent exploitation of this and similar information disclosure vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider migrating to more modern and secure ftp implementations or alternative file transfer protocols that provide better security controls and do not expose system path information in responses to standard commands.