CVE-2012-10035 in TurboFTP Server
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2025
Turbo FTP Server versions 1.30.823 and 1.30.826 contain a buffer overflow vulnerability in the handling of the PORT command. By sending a specially crafted payload, an unauthenticated remote attacker can overwrite memory structures and execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-10035 affects Turbo FTP Server versions 1.30.823 and 1.30.826, representing a critical buffer overflow flaw within the server's implementation of the FTP PORT command. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices that fail to properly bounds-check user-supplied data before processing. The flaw exists in the server's network protocol handling mechanism where the PORT command is used to establish data connections between client and server, making it a prime target for remote exploitation.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the server processes the PORT command without sufficient validation of the incoming parameter values. When an attacker sends a maliciously crafted payload containing excessive data in the PORT command, the server's buffer allocation mechanism fails to accommodate the oversized input, leading to memory corruption. This memory corruption allows attackers to overwrite critical program structures including return addresses, function pointers, and other control data within the server's execution context. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's stack-based buffer, where the overflow propagates through the call stack and can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables unauthenticated remote code execution with SYSTEM privileges, representing the highest level of access rights within the Windows operating system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete control over the affected server, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, and use of the server as a launch point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local access or authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible FTP servers. The attack surface extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential privilege escalation and lateral movement capabilities within compromised networks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in network protocol implementations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the compromised system to execute arbitrary commands and scripts. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a specific payload that exceeds the buffer capacity, carefully calculating the offset to overwrite the return address, and injecting shellcode that executes with elevated privileges. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to versions that address the buffer overflow, network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious FTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of vendor patches or updates that correct the buffer overflow handling in the PORT command implementation. Network administrators should also implement firewall rules to restrict FTP access to trusted networks only, and consider disabling unnecessary FTP services or migrating to more secure protocols such as SFTP or FTPS. Additionally, intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for known exploit signatures and anomalous traffic patterns associated with buffer overflow attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network services and ensure comprehensive protection against similar exploitation vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and memory safety practices in network service implementations, particularly those handling user-supplied data in protocol processing components.