CVE-2005-2314 in PHPsFTPd
Summary
by MITRE
inc.login.php in PHPsFTPd 0.2 through 0.4 allows remote attackers to obtain the administrator s username and password by setting the do_login parameter and performing an edit action using user.php, which causes the login check to be bypassed and leaks the password in the response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2314 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in PHPsFTPd versions 0.2 through 0.4 that fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems. This issue arises from improper input validation and authentication flow management within the inc.login.php component, creating a pathway for remote attackers to circumvent the standard login mechanism and gain unauthorized access to administrative credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's handling of the do_login parameter within the SFTPd login process. When attackers manipulate the user.php script to perform an edit action while setting the do_login parameter, the system fails to properly validate the authentication state before processing the request. This design flaw creates a condition where the login verification check becomes effectively bypassed, allowing unauthorized access to the system's administrative interface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes the edit action without proper authentication verification, resulting in the exposure of administrative credentials in the HTTP response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to assume full administrative control over affected SFTPd installations. This privilege escalation capability allows threat actors to manipulate user accounts, modify system configurations, access sensitive data repositories, and potentially establish persistent access points within compromised networks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this flaw from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where SFTPd services may be exposed to external networks.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software applications. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1110.003, which covers credential access through brute force or credential dumping methods. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and inadequate session management, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit weak authentication controls and extract sensitive information directly from application responses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected PHPsFTPd installations to versions that address the authentication bypass flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to SFTPd services, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious parameter manipulation patterns, and enforce strict access controls on administrative interfaces. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar authentication bypass issues in other applications and establish robust input validation controls. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the authentication flow functions correctly without introducing new security weaknesses.