CVE-2025-4160 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in PCMan FTP Server versions 2.0.0 through 2.0.7. The flaw resides in an unspecified functionality within the LS Command Handler component of the server software. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory. This can lead to arbitrary code execution, crashes, or other unpredictable behavior. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without requiring authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, categorizing it as a medium severity issue. The vector also indicates low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, suggesting that while exploitation is possible, the scope of damage may be limited or require additional conditions. Although the exploit has been publicly disclosed, there are no confirmed reports of active exploitation in the wild at this time. The lack of available patches or vendor advisories at the time of publication increases the risk for organizations still running affected versions. PCMan FTP Server is a lightweight FTP server solution often used in small to medium enterprises for file transfer services. The LS Command Handler likely processes specific FTP commands, and the buffer overflow could be triggered by sending crafted commands or payloads to the server, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. Given the remote, unauthenticated nature of the exploit, attackers could scan for exposed PCMan FTP Server instances and attempt exploitation at scale.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends largely on the prevalence of PCMan FTP Server in their infrastructure. If used, exploitation could lead to unauthorized remote code execution or denial of service, disrupting file transfer operations critical to business processes. This could result in data unavailability, operational downtime, and potential data integrity issues if attackers manipulate transferred files or server behavior. While the CVSS score suggests medium severity with limited confidentiality and integrity impact, the ability to execute code remotely without authentication elevates the risk profile, especially for organizations with exposed FTP servers accessible from the internet. Sectors relying on FTP for legacy systems or internal file sharing, such as manufacturing, logistics, or government agencies, may face operational disruptions. Additionally, exploitation could serve as a foothold for lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. The absence of known active exploitation reduces immediate risk but the public disclosure of the exploit code increases the likelihood of opportunistic attacks. European organizations with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) must consider the potential compliance implications if data is compromised or services disrupted.

1. Immediate identification and inventory of all PCMan FTP Server instances within the organization, including version verification to detect affected versions (2.0.0 to 2.0.7). 2. Where possible, disable or isolate FTP services exposed to untrusted networks until a patch or vendor update is available. 3. Implement network-level controls such as firewall rules to restrict access to FTP servers only to trusted IP addresses or internal networks. 4. Employ intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures or anomaly detection capable of identifying exploitation attempts targeting LS Command Handler or unusual FTP command sequences. 5. Monitor logs for suspicious activity, including unexpected FTP commands or connection attempts from unknown sources. 6. If patching is not immediately available, consider deploying application-layer proxies or FTP gateways that can sanitize or filter commands to mitigate malformed input. 7. Plan for rapid deployment of vendor patches or updates once released, including testing in staging environments to ensure stability. 8. Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability and the importance of minimizing FTP exposure, encouraging migration to more secure file transfer protocols (e.g., SFTP or FTPS) where feasible. 9. Conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on FTP services to proactively identify and remediate weaknesses.