Sunday, October 18, 2026

File Copy Vulnerability With ProFTPD puts Over 1 Million Servers at Risk

File copy vulnerability in ProFTPD server allows an anonymous remote attacker to execute the code in vulnerable machine results in remote code execution and information disclosure without authentication.

By exploiting the vulnerability attacker can run any program code with the rights of the Pro-FTPd service. The vulnerability can be tracked as CVE-2019-12815 and it affects all the versions up to 1.3.5b.

The vulnerability resides in ProFTPd’s mod_copy module that supplied with the default installation, by issuing CPFR, CPTO commands to a ProFTPd server allows users without write permissions to copy any file on the FTP server, says Tobias Mädel who identified the vulnerability.

ProFTPD Usage

It is a free open source FTP server that is compatible with Unix-like operating systems and Microsoft Windows. According to Shodan results, more than 1 Million Servers running vulnerable versions.

ProFTPD

Shodan report states that 1.3.5b is the most uses version of the ProFTPD and the most used operating system are Linux ones. Here is the full shodan report.

In future attackers may use exploits to compromise the vulnerable servers and infect them with malware.

Also Read: Critical Vulnerability in VLC Media Player 3.0.7.1 Let Hackers to Execute Arbitrary Code

Timeline:

28.09.2018 Reported to ProFTPd security@, ProFTPd asking for clarifications
12.06.2019 Reported to Debian Security Team, replies by Moritz & Salvatore
28.06.2019 Deadline for public disclosure on 28.07.2019 announced
17.07.2019 Fix published by ProFTPd

Sponsored: Free GDPR Comics Book – Importance of Following General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to protect your Company Data and user privacy

You can follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook for daily Cybersecurity updates also you can take the Best Cybersecurity course online to keep yourself updated.

Gurubaran
Gurubaran
Gurubaran is a co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security. He has 10+ years of experience as a Security Consultant, Editor, and Analyst in cybersecurity, technology, and communications.

Hot this week

How To Access Dark Web Anonymously and know its Secretive and Mysterious Activities

What is Deep Web The deep web, invisible web, or...

How to Build and Run a Security Operations Center (SOC Guide) – 2023

Today’s Cyber security operations center (CSOC) should have everything...

Russian Hackers Bypass EDR to Deliver a Weaponized TeamViewer Component

TeamViewer's popularity and remote access capabilities make it an...

Web Server Penetration Testing Checklist – 2026

Web server pentesting is performed under three significant categories: identity,...

ATM Penetration Testing – Advanced Testing Methods to Find The Vulnerabilities

ATM Penetration testing, Hackers have found different approaches to...

Hackers Use ConnectWise SkyKick Credentials to Access Microsoft 365, Halting Cloud Backups

Attackers abused compromised ConnectWise Cloud Backup credentials to access...

Anthropic’s Claude AI Uncovers Origins of NSA-Provided Cryptographic Keys After 25 Years

Anthropic says an internal Claude research model reconstructed how...

OpenBSD Kernel Flaw Dating Back 37 Years Enables Local Privilege Escalation to Root

A newly disclosed OpenBSD kernel exploitation chain combines a...

GhostAction Hackers Hide Credential-Stealing Malware in Fake Font Files Across 94 GitHub Repositories

GhostAction attackers have expanded their GitHub credential theft campaign...

SideCopy Hackers Target Indian Organizations With ReverseRAT Malware to Steal Data

Indian authorities have warned that SideCopy hackers are targeting...

New GhostBat Android Malware Targets 60 Banking and UPI Apps to Steal PINs

A new GhostBat RAT variant targets 60 Android financial...

New ROMULUS Malware Platform Uses Six Servers to Deliver Multiple Malicious Payloads

ROMULUS, a shared ClickFix delivery platform operating across six...

Related Articles

Recent News