Description
ProFTPD Server 1.3.1, with NLS support enabled, allows remote attackers to bypass SQL injection protection mechanisms via invalid, encoded multibyte characters, which are not properly handled in (1) mod_sql_mysql and (2) mod_sql_postgres.
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 | proftpd-dfsg | 1.3.2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | proftpd-dfsg | 1.3.2-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | proftpd-dfsg | 1.3.2-1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | proftpd-dfsg | 1.3.1-17lenny1 | DSA-1730-1, DSA-1727-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | proftpd | 1.3.5b-2.5 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10048-1 |
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
- ProFTPd - 'mod_mysql' Authentication Bypass EDB-8037 · remote · Feb 10, 2009 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 3
- DSA-1730-1 proftpd-dfsg - SQL injection vulnerabilites Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1727-1 - SQL injection vulnerabilites Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10048-1 proftpd-1.3.5b-2.5 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- DSA-1730 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20090211 Re: CVE request for proftpd mailing-list
- 34268 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2009:061 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200903-27 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20090211 CVE request for proftpd mailing-list
- http://bugs.proftpd.org/show_bug.cgi?id=3173