Description
Buffer overflows in (1) try_netscape_proxy and (2) try_squid_eplf for lftp 2.6.9 and earlier allow remote HTTP servers to execute arbitrary code via long directory names that are processed by the ls or rels commands.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | lftp | 2.6.10-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | lftp | 2.6.10-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | lftp | 2.6.10-1 | — |
| Debian 3.0 | lftp | 2.4.9-1woody2 | DSA-406 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 3 | lftp | 2.6.3-5 | RHSA-2003:404 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- lftp 2.6.9 - Remote Stack Overflow EDB-143 · remote · Jan 14, 2004 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2003:404 Red Hat Security Advisory: lftp security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-406 lftp - buffer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20031217 [OpenPKG-SA-2003.053] OpenPKG Security Advisory (lftp) mailing-list
- RHSA-2003:404 vendor-advisory
- DSA-406 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2003:116 vendor-advisory
- 10525 third-party-advisory
- SuSE-SA:2003:051 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11180 vdb-entry signature
- 20031212 [slackware-security] lftp security update (SSA:2003-346-01) mailing-list
- 20031218 GLSA: lftp (200312-07) mailing-list
- 10548 third-party-advisory
- CLA-2004:800 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2003:403 vendor-advisory
- 20031213 lftp buffer overflows mailing-list