CVE-2025-5665 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in FreeFloat FTP Server version 1.0, specifically within an unspecified function of the XCWD Command Handler component. This vulnerability allows an attacker to remotely send crafted commands to the FTP server, causing a buffer overflow condition. Buffer overflows occur when data exceeds the allocated buffer size, potentially overwriting adjacent memory and enabling arbitrary code execution or denial of service. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction, and the attack vector is network-based, making it remotely exploitable over the internet or internal networks. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, indicating a medium severity level, reflecting that while the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without privileges, the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is limited to low levels individually. However, combined, these impacts can be significant. The vulnerability affects only version 1.0 of FreeFloat FTP Server, a product that is relatively niche compared to more widely used FTP servers. There are no patches or fixes currently published, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild yet. The disclosure is recent, dated June 5, 2025, and the vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, which increases the risk of exploitation attempts by threat actors. The lack of detailed technical information about the exact function or the nature of the buffer overflow limits the ability to fully assess exploit complexity, but the absence of required privileges or user interaction suggests a relatively straightforward exploitation path for attackers with network access to the server.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-5665 depends largely on the deployment of FreeFloat FTP Server 1.0 within their infrastructure. If used, this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or disruption of FTP services. This could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data transferred via FTP, which remains in use in some legacy or specialized environments. The availability of FTP services could also be impacted, causing operational disruptions. Given the medium CVSS score, the direct impact might be moderate, but the ease of remote exploitation without authentication increases the risk profile. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, could face regulatory and reputational consequences if exploited. Additionally, FTP servers often serve as gateways for file transfers between internal and external networks, so exploitation could be a foothold for further lateral movement or persistent access within networks. The lack of patches means organizations must rely on mitigation strategies until a fix is available, increasing exposure duration.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting network access to FreeFloat FTP Server instances by implementing strict firewall rules, allowing only trusted IP addresses to connect to the FTP service. 2. Disable or replace the vulnerable FTP server with a more secure and actively maintained alternative that does not have known vulnerabilities. 3. If replacement is not immediately feasible, consider disabling the XCWD command functionality if configurable, or applying application-level filters to detect and block malformed commands targeting this function. 4. Monitor network traffic and server logs for unusual or malformed FTP commands that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Employ intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures or heuristics capable of identifying buffer overflow attempts against FTP services. 6. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical data to enable recovery in case of compromise or service disruption. 7. Stay alert for vendor updates or patches and apply them promptly once available. 8. Conduct internal audits to identify all instances of FreeFloat FTP Server 1.0 and assess exposure to this vulnerability. 9. Educate IT staff about this vulnerability and the importance of limiting FTP usage or migrating to secure file transfer protocols such as SFTP or FTPS.