Description
ProFTPD before 1.3.5e and 1.3.6 before 1.3.6rc5 controls whether the home directory of a user could contain a symbolic link through the AllowChrootSymlinks configuration option, but checks only the last path component when enforcing AllowChrootSymlinks. Attackers with local access could bypass the AllowChrootSymlinks control by replacing a path component (other than the last one) with a symbolic link. The threat model includes an attacker who is not granted full filesystem access by a hosting provider, but can reconfigure the home directory of an FTP user.
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 | 1.3.5b-4 | — |
| Debian 13 | proftpd-dfsg | 1.3.5b-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | proftpd-dfsg | 1.3.5b-4 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP1 | proftpd | 1.3.5e-bp151.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:0031-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:1870-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 | proftpd | 1.3.5e-bp150.3.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:0031-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:1836-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | proftpd | 1.3.6e-1.10 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11196-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | proftpd | 1.3.5e-bp150.3.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:0031-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:1836-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | proftpd | 1.3.5e-bp150.3.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1836-1 |
Advisories 4
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1836-1 Security update for proftpd SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1870-1 Security update for proftpd SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0031-1 Security update for proftpd SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11196-1 proftpd-1.3.6e-1.10 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://github.com/proftpd/proftpd/commit/ecff21e0d0e84f35c299ef91d7fda088e516d4ed
- https://github.com/proftpd/proftpd/commit/f59593e6ff730b832dbe8754916cb5c821db579f
- http://bugs.proftpd.org/show_bug.cgi?id=4295
- 97409 vdb-entry
- https://github.com/proftpd/proftpd/pull/444/commits/349addc3be4fcdad9bd4ec01ad1ccd916c898ed8
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1836 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1870 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0031 vendor-advisory