CVE-2000-0084 identifies a vulnerability in the CuteFTP client developed by Globalscape, where the application uses weak encryption to store password information within its configuration file named tree.dat. This file contains saved FTP site profiles, including credentials used for authentication. The weak encryption mechanism implies that the stored passwords can be easily decrypted or recovered by an attacker with access to the file, potentially exposing sensitive login credentials. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction to exploit, as it involves local access to the file system where CuteFTP stores its configuration. The CVSS score of 5.0 (medium severity) reflects that the vulnerability impacts confidentiality (password exposure) but does not affect integrity or availability. The attack vector is network (AV:N), but realistically, exploitation requires local or remote file access, which may be possible if the system is compromised or if the file is shared over a network. No patches are available, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, likely due to the age of the vulnerability and the declining use of CuteFTP. However, the risk remains for legacy systems still using vulnerable versions of CuteFTP, especially in environments where FTP credentials are critical for accessing internal or external resources.

For European organizations, the exposure of FTP credentials due to weak encryption in CuteFTP's tree.dat file could lead to unauthorized access to FTP servers, potentially resulting in data breaches or unauthorized data manipulation. FTP is often used for transferring sensitive files, including website content, backups, or proprietary data. If attackers obtain these credentials, they could exfiltrate data, inject malicious files, or disrupt services. Although FTP usage has declined in favor of more secure protocols, some legacy systems and industries still rely on FTP, especially in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, or media. The confidentiality breach could also facilitate lateral movement within networks if FTP credentials overlap with other systems. Given the lack of patches, organizations must consider alternative mitigations to protect stored credentials and limit access to configuration files.

1. Replace CuteFTP with modern FTP clients that use secure credential storage mechanisms and support secure protocols like SFTP or FTPS. 2. Restrict access permissions on the tree.dat file to the minimum necessary, ensuring only the application and authorized users can read it. 3. Avoid saving passwords in FTP clients; use manual entry or centralized credential management solutions. 4. Monitor and audit access to FTP credentials and configuration files to detect unauthorized access attempts. 5. Where possible, migrate FTP servers to support encrypted protocols and enforce multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of credential compromise. 6. Educate users about the risks of storing passwords in applications with weak encryption and encourage best practices for credential management. 7. Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of FTP servers and related credentials to only trusted network zones.