REDHAT-BUG-397011: Low severity vsftpd vsftpd vulnerability

Published Nov 23, 2007
·
Updated

Description of problem: There is a memory leak that causes memory to be allocated but not freed. When the denyfile option is set, it is possible to easily exploit this. This is a regression caused by applied patch in bz174764. Problem also exists in FC-6, F-7, F-8 and fedora/devel. Attached is a patch to solve the problem.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): vsftpd-2.0.5-10.el5

How reproducible: always

Steps to Reproduce: echo denyfile=foo >> /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf service vsftpd restart

$ cat > memtest.sh << EOF #!/bin/bash echo USER anonymous echo PASS foo

while [ 1 ]; do echo CWD pub echo CWD .. done EOF

$ chmod 700 memtest.sh $ ./memtest.sh | telnet localhost 21 > /dev/null

Actual results: vsftpd starts to allocate memory that will never be freed.

Expected results:

Additional info: It is possible that the memory leak can be exploited by other means, or with other vsftpd.conf options. This was not investigated into more depth.

Affected Software

1 affected component
vsftpd vsftpd

Event History

Nov 23, 2007
Data Sourced
03:51 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-397011?

The severity of REDHAT-BUG-397011 is considered high due to the potential for exploitation and memory leaks.

2

How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-397011?

You can fix REDHAT-BUG-397011 by applying the appropriate patches for the affected versions of VSFTPD and Fedora.

3

What software is affected by REDHAT-BUG-397011?

The software affected by REDHAT-BUG-397011 includes VSFTPD and specific versions of Fedora ranging from FC-6 to F-9.

4

What causes the memory leak in REDHAT-BUG-397011?

The memory leak in REDHAT-BUG-397011 is caused by a regression from a patch that failed to properly manage memory allocation.

5

Can REDHAT-BUG-397011 be exploited easily?

Yes, REDHAT-BUG-397011 can be easily exploited when the deny_file option is set due to inadequate memory management.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203