CVE-2010-20045 in FileWrangler
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
FileWrangler <= 5.30 suffers from a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability when parsing directory listings from an FTP server. A malicious server can send an overlong folder name in response to a LIST command, triggering memory corruption during client-side rendering. Exploitation requires passive user interaction—simply connecting to the server—without further input. Successful exploitation may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-20045 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in FileWrangler version 5.30 and earlier, specifically within the application's handling of FTP directory listings. This vulnerability resides in the client-side parsing logic that processes responses from FTP servers, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through legitimate network interactions without requiring any malicious payload delivery or active user deception. The flaw occurs when the FTP client receives a maliciously crafted directory listing containing an excessively long folder name in response to a LIST command, which then triggers memory corruption during the client-side rendering process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within FileWrangler's FTP parsing routines. When the application encounters a directory listing response from an FTP server, it attempts to store directory names in a fixed-size stack buffer without proper length verification. This allows a malicious FTP server to craft a response containing a folder name that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing a stack overflow condition that can overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented and highly dangerous class of memory corruption vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the protocol parsing level, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it presents a significant risk for remote code execution attacks. An attacker controlling a malicious FTP server can exploit this vulnerability simply by establishing a connection to a victim's FileWrangler client, requiring no additional user interaction beyond the initial connection. The passive nature of this exploitation means that users can be compromised merely by connecting to a malicious server, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently connect to external FTP servers. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services, and represents a classic example of how network protocol implementations can create attack vectors that are both easy to exploit and difficult to prevent. The potential for arbitrary code execution makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access or deploy additional malware.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-20045 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that address the buffer overflow vulnerability, as the original FileWrangler version 5.30 is no longer supported and lacks proper input validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement network-level controls such as FTP server filtering and outbound connection restrictions to limit exposure to potentially malicious FTP servers. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of connecting to untrusted FTP servers, particularly in environments where users have administrative privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper bounds checking and input validation in network protocol parsers, which aligns with security best practices outlined in standards such as NIST SP 800-115 for vulnerability management. Regular security assessments of network applications and protocols should include thorough testing of input handling mechanisms to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other software components. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous FTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's exploitation does not require any additional user interaction beyond the initial connection.