CVE-2010-4871 in SmartFTP
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in SmartFTP before 4.0 Build 1142 allows attackers to have an unknown impact via a long filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4871 represents a classic buffer overflow condition within the SmartFTP client software prior to version 4.0 Build 1142. This issue arises from insufficient input validation when processing file names during file transfer operations, creating a potential avenue for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the software encounters filenames that exceed predetermined length limits, leading to memory corruption that could be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause application instability.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and memory management flaws that are commonly classified as CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The flaw occurs during the parsing of file names in the FTP client's file handling routines, where the application fails to properly sanitize or truncate excessively long filenames before processing them. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal file transfer operations without requiring special privileges or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes or denial of service conditions. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to execute malicious code within the context of the SmartFTP application, which typically runs with the privileges of the user who initiated the transfer. This could lead to complete system compromise if the user has administrative privileges or if the application is used in corporate environments where sensitive data is frequently transferred. The vulnerability's unspecified impact descriptor suggests that the actual consequences could range from data corruption to full system takeover depending on the execution environment and attack methodology employed.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is relatively narrow but significant, as it requires an attacker to either directly interact with the vulnerable application or manipulate the file transfer process in a way that causes the application to process an overly long filename. This could occur through malicious file names in automated transfer scripts, social engineering attacks that trick users into accepting maliciously named files, or through exploitation of other vulnerabilities that might allow filename injection. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as the exploitation could involve command injection through manipulated file names.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected SmartFTP installations to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability exists in versions prior to 4.0 Build 1142. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect unusual file transfer patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider implementing additional security controls such as file name length restrictions at network boundaries. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in legitimate file transfer operations while maintaining the security improvements necessary to prevent exploitation. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other FTP client software and ensure that input validation mechanisms are robust against various forms of malicious input.