CVE-2008-6186 in RaidenFTPD
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in RaidenFTPD 2.4 build 3620 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via long (1) CWD and (2) MLST commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6186 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within RaidenFTPD version 2.4 build 3620, a widely used FTP server implementation. This flaw exists in the handling of specific command sequences that process user inputs through the Change Working Directory CWD and Machine List MLST commands, creating a significant security risk for systems running this particular FTP server software. The vulnerability affects remote authenticated users, meaning that attackers must first establish a valid FTP session before exploiting this flaw, which reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the severity of the issue.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate input validation within the command processing routines of the FTP server. When authenticated users submit excessively long arguments to the CWD and MLST commands, the server fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it onto the stack. This allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the program's execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution or system crash. The vulnerability specifically targets the stack memory layout where local variables and return addresses are stored, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to gain control over the server process execution context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can lead to complete system compromise when exploited successfully. Remote attackers who can authenticate to the FTP server can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with the privileges of the FTP service account, potentially escalating to system-level access. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability can also be weaponized to disrupt legitimate user access to the FTP service, causing business interruption and potential data accessibility issues. Organizations relying on RaidenFTPD for file transfer operations face significant risk when this vulnerability remains unpatched, particularly in environments where FTP services are exposed to untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6186 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as this vulnerability has been widely known and documented for over a decade. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to FTP services and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for unusual command sequences and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow classification and represents a technique commonly catalogued in ATT&CK framework under T1059 command and scripting interpreter for execution. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls and input validation controls to provide additional defense-in-depth layers against similar vulnerabilities in other services.