CVE-2006-2212 in Sami FTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in KarjaSoft Sami FTP Server 2.0.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long (1) USER or (2) PASS command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2212 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in KarjaSoft Sami FTP Server version 2.0.2 and earlier implementations. This security weakness resides within the server's handling of authentication commands, specifically targeting the USER and PASS command processing mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the server receives specially crafted commands containing excessively long input strings that exceed the allocated buffer space, creating conditions ripe for exploitation by remote attackers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The Sami FTP Server fails to properly validate the length of user credentials submitted during the authentication process, enabling malicious actors to inject oversized payloads that overwrite critical memory segments including return addresses and stack pointers. This buffer overflow condition directly enables arbitrary code execution capabilities, as attackers can manipulate the program flow to redirect execution to malicious code injected within the overflowed buffer space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on the affected FTP server implementation. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw without requiring authentication credentials to establish initial access, making it particularly dangerous for systems where FTP services are exposed to untrusted networks. The successful exploitation results in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected service account. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1190 for exploit public-facing application and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, demonstrating the comprehensive impact of such a flaw on system security posture.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrading to a non-affected version of the Sami FTP Server software. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure of FTP services to trusted networks only, while monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying abnormal command lengths in FTP traffic can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper boundary checking in network services, emphasizing that even legacy applications require regular security updates to address known vulnerabilities that could lead to complete system compromise.