University of Washington wu-ftpd 2.6.2 SKEY Request ftpd.c skey_challenge memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in University of Washington wu-ftpd 2.6.2. It has been declared as critical. This affects the function skey_challenge of the file ftpd.c of the component SKEY Request Handler. Such manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2004-0185. No exploit is available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in University of Washington wu-ftpd 2.6.2 (File Transfer Software) and classified as very critical. Affected by this issue is the function skey_challenge of the file ftpd.c of the component SKEY Request Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Buffer overflow in the skey_challenge function in ftpd.c for wu-ftp daemon (wu-ftpd) 2.6.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a s/key (SKEY) request with a long name.

The weakness was published 03/15/2004 by Michal Zalewski (Rick) (Website). The advisory is available at securiteam.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2004-0185. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/13/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 14372 (WU-FTPD S/KEY Authentication ftpd.c skey_challenge Function Remote Overflow), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family FTP and running in the context r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 27276 (WU-FTPD S/Key Remote Buffer Overrun Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (13518), Tenable (14372), SecurityFocus (BID 8893†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-4737†). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 14372
Nessus Name: WU-FTPD S/KEY Authentication ftpd.c skey_challenge Function Remote Overflow
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 53155
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 457-1 (wu-ftpd)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

06/07/2000 🔍
10/26/2003 +1236 days 🔍
03/15/2004 +141 days 🔍
03/15/2004 +0 days 🔍
07/14/2004 +121 days 🔍
08/25/2004 +42 days 🔍
10/15/2014 +3703 days 🔍
07/13/2025 +3924 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: washington.edu

Advisory: securiteam.com
Researcher: Michal Zalewski (Rick)
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2004-0185 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-0185
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-21650
X-Force: 13518
SecurityFocus: 8893 - Wu-Ftpd S/Key Remote Buffer Overrun Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 4737 - Buffer Overflow in Wu-FTP SKEY Authentication Function Enables Code Execution as Root, High

Entryinfo

Created: 10/15/2014 15:31
Updated: 07/13/2025 18:15
Changes: 10/15/2014 15:31 (72), 05/23/2019 08:07 (2), 07/13/2025 18:15 (19)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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