CVE-2023-27745 in TitanFTP
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2023
An issue in South River Technologies TitanFTP Before v2.0.1.2102 allows attackers with low-level privileges to perform Administrative actions by sending requests to the user server.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-27745 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within South River Technologies TitanFTP software prior to version 2.0.1.2102. This security weakness allows attackers with minimal user privileges to execute administrative functions through crafted requests sent to the user server component of the application. The flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions before executing privileged operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and authorization framework of TitanFTP, where the system does not sufficiently enforce role-based access controls during server-side request processing. This misconfiguration enables unauthorized users to bypass normal security boundaries and perform actions typically restricted to administrators. The issue manifests when legitimate user sessions interact with the server component, allowing privilege escalation through manipulated request parameters or malformed API calls that exploit the insufficient validation logic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the server-side processing logic where TitanFTP fails to maintain proper session state validation and authorization checks. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting specific requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative accounts or by manipulating existing user sessions to gain elevated privileges. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the user server component, which handles authentication and authorization decisions for various administrative functions. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks as classified under CWE-285, where the application does not properly verify that the requesting entity has sufficient privileges to perform the requested operation. The vulnerability can be exploited through network-based attacks where an attacker with access to the TitanFTP server can send malicious requests that manipulate the authorization flow, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector requires minimal privileges initially, making it particularly dangerous as it allows lateral movement and privilege escalation within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-27745 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling full system compromise and data exfiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can perform administrative actions such as creating new user accounts, modifying existing user permissions, accessing sensitive system files, and potentially gaining root or administrator-level access to the underlying operating system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire TitanFTP deployment, as it allows attackers to modify system configurations and access restricted data. Organizations using affected versions of TitanFTP face significant risk of unauthorized data access, system manipulation, and potential data breaches. The impact is particularly severe in environments where TitanFTP serves as a critical file transfer and storage solution, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive corporate or personal data. This flaw aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework including privilege escalation, defense evasion, and credential access, where attackers can use the vulnerability to establish persistent access and avoid detection mechanisms.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to TitanFTP version 2.0.1.2102 or later to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of TitanFTP servers to untrusted networks. Additional mitigations include implementing strict firewall rules that restrict access to TitanFTP server components, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and conducting regular security audits of user permissions and access logs. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specific to this vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the need for regular security updates and patch management processes. Organizations should also review their overall security posture and ensure that all applications maintain proper authorization checks and validation mechanisms to prevent similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities from occurring in other systems.