CVE-2007-3161 in Ace-FTP
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Ace-FTP Client 1.24a allows user-assisted, remote FTP servers to execute arbitrary code via a long response.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3161 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Ace-FTP Client version 1.24a that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through crafted server responses. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-121, classified as Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the application's stack. The flaw specifically manifests when the FTP client processes responses from remote servers that contain excessively long data sequences, particularly in FTP command responses that are not properly validated or truncated before being copied into fixed-length buffers within the application's memory space.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to control a remote FTP server that can be accessed by the victim using the vulnerable Ace-FTP Client software. The user-assisted nature of this attack means that the victim must actively connect to the malicious FTP server for the exploit to succeed, but the attacker does not need to directly compromise the victim's system or network. When the client receives a response containing more data than the allocated buffer can accommodate, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the FTP client, which typically runs with the same permissions as the local user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data theft. An attacker who successfully exploits this buffer overflow could gain complete control over the victim's system, allowing them to install malware, steal sensitive information, or establish persistent access through backdoors. The vulnerability affects any system running Ace-FTP Client 1.24a and is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple users might connect to various FTP servers, including potentially untrusted public or third-party servers. The attack vector specifically targets the FTP protocol response handling mechanism, making it a significant concern for organizations that rely on FTP clients for file transfers, as even legitimate file transfers could be compromised if the remote server is malicious or compromised.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3161 should prioritize immediate patching of the vulnerable software, as Ace-FTP Client version 1.24a has been superseded by newer versions that address this specific buffer overflow vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to potentially malicious FTP servers and consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual FTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted FTP clients and implement proper input validation controls at network boundaries to filter out overly long FTP responses. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised system. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their FTP client software to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities that may exist in other network applications, particularly those handling user-supplied data without proper bounds checking.