Description
mod_sql in ProFTPD before 1.3.9a allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a username, in scenarios where there is logging of USER requests with an expansion such as %U, and the SQL backend allows commands (e.g., COPY TO PROGRAM).
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProFTPD | ProFTPD | 1.3.7b – < 1.3.9a | 1.3.9a |
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 | 1.3.9~dfsg-5 | — |
| Debian 13 | proftpd-dfsg | 1.3.8.c+dfsg-4+deb13u2 | — |
| Debian 12 | proftpd-dfsg | 1.3.8+dfsg-4+deb12u5 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | proftpd-dfsg | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP7 | proftpd | 1.3.8b-150600.13.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:5181-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | proftpd | 1.3.8b-150600.13.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:5181-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP6 | proftpd | 1.3.8b-150600.13.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:5181-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | proftpd | 1.3.9c-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:11352-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | proftpd | 1.3.9a-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | proftpd | 1.3.9a-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | proftpd | 1.3.9a-r0 | — |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- CVE-2026-42167 - ProFTPD mod_sql post-authentication SQLi - RCE EDB-52658 · remote · Aug 25, 2026
GitHub 6 repositories
-
ZeroPathAI/proftpd-CVE-2026-42167-poc ★ 31 · Apr 28, 2026
POCs to demonstrate CVE-2026-42167 in ProFTPD
-
dinosn/proftpd-CVE-2026-42167-analysis ★ 3 · Apr 29, 2026
Independent reproduction, code-level root-cause analysis, and realistic-exposure write-up for CVE-2026-42167 (ProFTPD mod_sql is_escaped_text() bypass).
-
jimmexploit/CVE-2026-42167-PoC ★ 1 · May 2, 2026
ProFTPD SQL injection PoC
-
efeanilarslan/CVE-2026-42167-Exploit ★ 1 · May 2, 2026
Python exploit for CVE-2026-42167 (ProFTPD mod_sql). Features automated file scanning and timing-based blind data exfiltration.
-
kaleth4/CVE-2026-42167 ★ 0 · May 4, 2026
-
Sl4cK0TH/CVE-2026-42167-PoC ★ 0 · May 1, 2026
Pre-Auth RCE in ProFTPD via mod_sql is_escaped_text() bypass (CVE-2026-42167)
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Automated scanner template
A ready-made Nuclei template detects this vulnerability automatically. Vulnerabilities with public scanner templates are typically probed across the internet soon after the template appears — exposed systems should be patched first.
- ProFTPD mod_sql - Preauth User Backdoor network/cves/2026/CVE-2026-42167.yaml
Source: projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates (MIT) — updated daily. Only links are listed.
Advisories 3
- SUSE-SU-2026:5181-1 Security update for proftpd SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 11, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-1297 ProFTPD: Schwachstelle ermöglicht SQL-Injection BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 10, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:11352-1 proftpd-1.3.9c-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 24, 2026