CVE-2007-1080 in TurboFTP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in TurboFTP 5.30 Build 572 allow remote servers to cause a denial of service via (1) long filename in a response to a LIST command, and (2) a long response to a CWD command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1080 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow issue affecting TurboFTP version 5.30 Build 572. This flaw exists within the file transfer protocol implementation and specifically targets the handling of server responses during FTP operations. The vulnerability manifests when the client receives specially crafted responses from remote FTP servers that exceed expected buffer limits, creating conditions that can lead to memory corruption and system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that exploit different FTP command responses. The first vector involves a maliciously crafted long filename in the response to a LIST command, which is typically used to retrieve directory listings from FTP servers. When the TurboFTP client processes this oversized filename, it fails to properly validate the input length against allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in memory overwrite conditions. The second vector targets the CWD command response, where an excessively long response string causes similar buffer overflow conditions in the client's memory management routines. Both scenarios exploit the fundamental weakness in input validation and memory allocation practices within the FTP client implementation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security concerns for users of TurboFTP 5.30 Build 572 as it allows remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against vulnerable systems. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that attackers can potentially corrupt heap metadata and memory structures, leading to application crashes, system instability, and in some cases, arbitrary code execution. The remote nature of this attack means that users are vulnerable simply by connecting to malicious FTP servers or by downloading files from compromised sources, making the attack surface particularly broad. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables remote code execution through client-side exploitation.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from affected users, including upgrading to a patched version of TurboFTP or implementing network-level restrictions to prevent connections to untrusted FTP servers. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect suspicious FTP traffic patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in client applications, particularly those handling network communications with untrusted sources. Organizations using legacy FTP clients should prioritize security updates and consider migrating to more secure file transfer protocols such as SFTP or FTPS that provide better security guarantees and are less susceptible to these types of buffer overflow attacks. This vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security assessments of third-party applications and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to protect against known exploits.