CVE-2018-12113 in Core FTP LE
Summary
by MITRE
Core FTP LE version 2.2 Build 1921 is prone to a buffer overflow vulnerability that may result in a DoS or remote code execution via a PASV response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12113 affects Core FTP LE version 2.2 Build 1921 and represents a critical buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to achieve either denial of service or remote code execution. This flaw specifically manifests within the application's handling of PASV (Passive) FTP responses, which are commonly used in FTP protocol communications to establish data connections between client and server components. The buffer overflow occurs when the software fails to properly validate the length of incoming data during the passive mode connection setup process, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the Core FTP LE application's FTP client implementation. When processing a PASV response from an FTP server, the software attempts to parse and store the server's response data without sufficient bounds checking. This lack of proper boundary validation allows an attacker to craft a malicious PASV response containing oversized data that exceeds the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which represents a well-known weakness in software development practices where insufficient bounds checking leads to memory overwrite conditions that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems utilizing Core FTP LE for file transfer operations. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain unauthorized access to systems running the vulnerable software, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The denial of service aspect creates additional concerns as attackers could disrupt legitimate FTP operations by causing the application to crash or become unresponsive. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that FTP clients are commonly used in enterprise environments for routine file transfer operations, making the exploitation of this vulnerability particularly damaging.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-12113 aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access and execution phases. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain, using the remote code execution capability to establish persistent access to target systems. The vulnerability also relates to credential access and privilege escalation techniques since compromised systems could provide attackers with additional access rights and capabilities. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling activities and evaluate their current security postures against potential exploitation vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12113 should prioritize immediate software updates to the latest version of Core FTP LE where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking implementations. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious FTP traffic patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and proper software development practices, particularly regarding input validation and memory management, as outlined in industry standards and best practices for secure software development. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based protections such as firewalls and network access control lists to restrict FTP traffic to authorized users and systems only.