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CVE-2010-20103

ProFTPD 1.3.3c Backdoor Command Execution

Published: Aug 20, 2025Updated: Jul 15, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVDCWE-912
9.8CRITICAL
NVD MITRE
EPSS Score
5.1%
Top 8.5%
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
3 Known
Remediation
No Fix Available
Self-Check
Nuclei · OpenVAS

Description

A malicious backdoor was embedded in the official ProFTPD 1.3.3c source tarball distributed between November 28 and December 2, 2010. The backdoor implements a hidden FTP command trigger that, when invoked, causes the server to execute arbitrary shell commands with root privileges. This allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to run any OS command on the FTP server host.

No summary for this CVE yet.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:UC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High
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Weaknesses

CWE-912

Affected Products

proftpd
oss-projectaka proftpd-dfsg
proftpdOn-prem
Networking Infrastructure / network-management
ProFTPD Project
oss-projectaka proftpd (professional ftp daemon), proftpd
ProFTPD (Professional FTP Daemon)On-prem
Networking Infrastructure / network-management

Exploitability

3 exploit sources identified

Exploit details including PoC links, Metasploit modules, and scanner templates are available after registration.

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References

http://www.proftpd.org/
proftpd.org
https://advisories.checkpoint.com/defense/advisories/public/2011/cpai-2010-151.html/
advisories.checkpoint.com
https://github.com/proftpd/proftpd
github.com
and 5 more references View all →

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