CVE-2025-3723 in FTP Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/16/2025
A vulnerability was found in PCMan FTP Server 2.0.7 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component MDTM Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-3723 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within PCMan FTP Server version 2.0.7, specifically within the MDTM Command Handler component. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which encompasses classic stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The MDTM command in FTP protocol is used to retrieve or set the modification time of files, making it a legitimate command that could be exploited without raising immediate suspicion during network traffic analysis.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote manipulation of the MDTM command handler, where malformed input data can cause the server to write beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This buffer overflow creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or denial of service conditions that could compromise the entire FTP server infrastructure. The attack vector is entirely remote, meaning an attacker does not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the vulnerability, which significantly increases its threat surface and potential impact.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on PCMan FTP Server for file transfer operations, particularly in environments where the server handles sensitive data or serves as a critical component in data exchange processes. The public disclosure of exploitation techniques means that threat actors can readily develop automated tools to target systems running affected versions, potentially leading to widespread compromise across networks. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation.
Security mitigations for CVE-2025-3723 should prioritize immediate patching of affected PCMan FTP Server installations to version 2.0.8 or later, which contains the necessary buffer overflow protections and input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure of FTP servers to untrusted networks, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious MDTM command usage patterns, and consider disabling unnecessary FTP services entirely. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in network services and highlighting the necessity of secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems running legacy FTP server implementations and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.