CVE-2010-2073 in Pyftpd
Summary
by MITRE
auth_db_config.py in Pyftpd 0.8.4 contains hard-coded usernames and passwords for the (1) test, (2) user, and (3) roxon accounts, which allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files from the FTP server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2073 resides within the auth_db_config.py file of Pyftpd version 0.8.4, a Python-based FTP server implementation. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that stems from the inclusion of hard-coded authentication credentials within the software's configuration files. The affected accounts include test, user, and roxon, each containing predetermined usernames and passwords that are embedded directly into the source code rather than being dynamically generated or securely stored. This design flaw fundamentally violates secure coding practices and creates a persistent backdoor mechanism that remains active regardless of system updates or configuration changes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attacker capabilities that leverage the hard-coded credentials to establish authenticated sessions with the FTP server. Once authenticated, attackers can leverage their access privileges to perform arbitrary file operations, including reading files from the server's filesystem that would normally be restricted to authorized users. This arbitrary file reading capability represents a severe privilege escalation vector that allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially extract sensitive data, configuration files, or system information from the compromised server. The vulnerability operates at the authentication and authorization layers of the FTP protocol implementation, making it particularly dangerous as it undermines the fundamental security model of the service.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations deploying Pyftpd 0.8.4 in production environments. The hard-coded credentials remain static and predictable, making the system vulnerable to automated scanning and exploitation attempts. Attackers can systematically target installations using known default credentials, leading to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. The vulnerability also enables lateral movement within networks where FTP servers are used as part of infrastructure components, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with access to additional resources that may be protected by similar credential weaknesses. This represents a persistent threat that requires immediate remediation regardless of the specific network environment or security controls in place.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2073 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Pyftpd or implement network-level controls to restrict access to FTP services. The hard-coded credentials should be removed from the source code and replaced with secure authentication mechanisms that utilize dynamic credential generation or external authentication services. Network segmentation and firewall rules should limit access to FTP services to only trusted hosts and users. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their software inventory to identify other instances of hardcoded credentials that may exist in similar applications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1078, which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for persistence and privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to prevent similar issues in future software deployments.