Description
Format string vulnerability in hsftp 1.11 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via file names containing format string characters that are not properly handled when executing an "ls" command.
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 3.0 | hsftp | 1.11-1woody1 | DSA-447 |
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
- Samhain Labs 1.x - HSFTP Remote Format String EDB-23740 · remote · Feb 23, 2004 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-447 hsftp - format string Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 4029 vdb-entry
- hsftp-format-string(15276) vdb-entry
- 9715 vdb-entry
- 20040223 Re: [SECURITY] [DSA 447-1] New hsftp packages fix format string vulnerability mailing-list
- DSA-447 vendor-advisory