CVE-2004-0656 Scanner

Pure-FTPd is a lightweight and robust FTP server software used by various organizations for transferring files over the Internet. Its open-source nature allows for flexibility and customization, making it a popular choice among developers and IT professionals. Organizations ranging from small businesses to large enterprises utilize Pure-FTPd for secure file management across their networks. Despite its reliability, older versions have exhibited vulnerabilities that need addressing. Pure-FTPd's community involvement and consistent updates aim to enhance security and performance, ensuring safe data exchange.

The Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability in Pure-FTPd arises due to connection limit exhaustion. Attackers targeting this weakness can potentially cause the server to crash or become unresponsive by exceeding the maximum number of connections. This kind of attack effectively disrupts the normal operation of the server, leading to downtime and potential data transfer interruptions. Understanding the nature of this vulnerability is crucial for administrators to implement appropriate countermeasures. Regular updates and monitoring can help mitigate the risks associated with Denial of Service attacks. Addressing these vulnerabilities ensures continued integrity and availability of services provided by the FTP server.

In Pure-FTPd, the vulnerability occurs within the accept_client function, where handling connection limits becomes a challenge. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability can flood the server with excessive requests, surpassing the predefined connection threshold. This causes resource exhaustion and potentially crashes or stalls server operations. The exploitation process is straightforward due to the low complexity of this vulnerability, making it an attractive target for attackers. System administrators must focus on proper configuration and monitoring to detect unusual activity related to connection attempts. Implementing additional security layers can further safeguard the server from such exploits.

Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to significant operational disruptions. The server's unresponsiveness can hinder file transfer processes, impacting business operations dependent on timely data exchanges. Prolonged downtime can also result in financial losses and damage to the organization's reputation. Additionally, the inability to access critical data during the attack may affect decision-making processes. Mitigating this vulnerability is essential to maintain the seamless functioning of web services and ensure data integrity. Organizations should take proactive measures to address this weakness, safeguarding their infrastructure from potential threats.

REFERENCES

• http://www.pureftpd.org/
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/16611