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CVE-2025-4238: Buffer Overflow in PCMan FTP Server

Medium
VulnerabilityCVE-2025-4238cvecve-2025-4238
Published: Sat May 03 2025 (05/03/2025, 16:31:03 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: PCMan
Product: FTP Server

Description

A vulnerability was found in PCMan FTP Server 2.0.7. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component MGET Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/05/2025, 18:54:50 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2025-4238 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in PCMan FTP Server version 2.0.7, specifically within the MGET command handler component. The vulnerability allows an attacker to remotely trigger a buffer overflow condition by sending specially crafted MGET commands to the server. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory and leading to arbitrary code execution, crashes, or other unpredictable behavior. In this case, the vulnerability is exploitable remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction, increasing the attack surface significantly. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, categorized as medium severity, reflecting the network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact metrics indicate low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, suggesting that while exploitation is possible, the consequences may be limited or require additional conditions to escalate. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigations have been officially released at the time of publication. The vulnerability affects only version 2.0.7 of PCMan FTP Server, a product used to provide FTP services, which may be deployed in various organizational environments for file transfer purposes. Given the nature of FTP servers as internet-facing services, this vulnerability poses a risk of remote compromise if left unaddressed.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends largely on the extent of PCMan FTP Server deployment within their infrastructure. Organizations relying on this FTP server for file transfer services may face risks including unauthorized remote code execution or denial of service if attackers exploit the buffer overflow. This could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or lateral movement within the network. Critical sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and government agencies that utilize FTP servers for sensitive data exchange could be particularly affected. Additionally, the vulnerability's remote exploitability without authentication increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts. However, the medium CVSS score and low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability suggest that exploitation may require specific conditions or may not lead to full system compromise in all cases. Nonetheless, the presence of a public disclosure increases the urgency for European organizations to assess their exposure and implement mitigations promptly to prevent potential attacks.

Mitigation Recommendations

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or restricting access to the PCMan FTP Server 2.0.7 instances, especially from untrusted networks or the internet, to reduce exposure. 2. Employ network-level controls such as firewalls or intrusion prevention systems to block or monitor FTP traffic targeting vulnerable servers. 3. If possible, replace PCMan FTP Server 2.0.7 with a more secure, updated FTP server solution that is actively maintained and patched. 4. Implement strict access controls and segmentation to limit the impact of a potential compromise of the FTP server. 5. Monitor network and server logs for unusual MGET command activity or other suspicious behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Since no official patch is currently available, organizations should follow vendor communications closely for updates and apply patches immediately upon release. 7. Consider deploying application-layer protections such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block malformed FTP commands. 8. Conduct internal vulnerability scans and penetration tests to identify any instances of the vulnerable software and verify the effectiveness of mitigations.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
VulDB
Date Reserved
2025-05-02T20:28:54.781Z
Cisa Enriched
true
Cvss Version
4.0
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 682d981cc4522896dcbda792

Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:08:44 AM

Last enriched: 7/5/2025, 6:54:50 PM

Last updated: 7/29/2025, 11:01:47 PM

Views: 12

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