CVE-2008-2779 in CuteFTP
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP Home 8.2.0 Build 02.26.2008.4 and CuteFTP Pro 8.2.0 Build 04.01.2008.1 allows remote FTP servers to create or overwrite arbitrary files via ..\ (dot dot backslash) sequences in responses to LIST commands, a related issue to CVE-2002-1345. NOTE: this can be leveraged for code execution by writing to a Startup folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2779 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting GlobalSCAPE CuteFTP Home and Pro client applications. This security weakness resides in the handling of FTP LIST command responses, where the software fails to properly validate directory paths containing ..\ sequences that should be restricted. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions 8.2.0 build 02.26.2008.4 for Home and 8.2.0 build 04.01.2008.1 for Pro, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate file system operations through carefully crafted FTP server responses. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, exploiting improper input validation mechanisms that should prevent traversal beyond intended directories.
This directory traversal vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The issue manifests when the CuteFTP client processes LIST command responses containing ..\ sequences, allowing malicious FTP servers to specify file paths that bypass normal directory restrictions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to write files to arbitrary locations on the victim's filesystem, including system directories that could contain startup folders or other critical locations where executable code might be placed. The attack vector operates through the FTP protocol's LIST command which is used to retrieve directory listings, making it a fundamental operation that users routinely perform.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2779 extends beyond simple file creation or overwriting to encompass potential code execution capabilities. When attackers can write files to startup folders or other system locations, they can establish persistence mechanisms that execute malicious code every time the system boots or when the affected application launches. This represents a significant escalation from a simple directory traversal attack to a full system compromise scenario, as described in the ATT&CK framework under T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1036 for masquerading. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2002-1345 demonstrates a pattern of similar flaws in FTP client implementations, where path traversal issues have repeatedly been discovered in applications that fail to properly sanitize file system paths received from remote servers.
The exploitability of this vulnerability requires an attacker to control or compromise an FTP server that the victim connects to, making it a man-in-the-middle or compromised server attack vector. However, the consequences are severe because successful exploitation allows attackers to place malicious executables in startup locations, ensuring persistence even after the initial compromise. Organizations using these vulnerable versions of CuteFTP should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions, disabling FTP client functionality when not required, or implementing network segmentation to prevent access to potentially compromised FTP servers. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation in client-side applications and the need for robust path sanitization mechanisms that prevent attackers from manipulating file system operations through protocol responses.