CVE-2010-20103

high-risk
Published 2025-08-20

A malicious backdoor was embedded in the official ProFTPD 1.3.3c source tarball distributed between November 28 and December 2, 2010. The backdoor implements a hidden FTP command trigger that, when invoked, causes the server to execute arbitrary shell commands with root privileges. This allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to run any OS command on the FTP server host.

Do I need to act?

!
85.1% chance of exploitation in next 30 days
EPSS score — higher than 15% of all CVEs
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Not on CISA KEV list
No confirmed active exploitation reported to CISA
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Patch status unknown
Check vendor advisories for fix availability and mitigation guidance
9
CVSS 9.8/10 Critical
NETWORK / LOW complexity

Affected Products (1)

Affected Vendors

Proftpd

References (11)

Product http://www.proftpd.org/
Third Party Advisory https://advisories.checkpoint.com/defense/advisories/public/2011/cpai-2010-151.h...
Product https://github.com/proftpd/proftpd
Exploit https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exp...
Release Notes https://web.archive.org/web/20111107212129/http://rsync.proftpd.org/
Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/15662
Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16921
Third Party Advisory https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/proftpd-backdoor-command-execution
Exploit https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exp...
Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/15662
Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16921
57
/ 100
high-risk
Severity 32/34 · Critical
Exploitability 20/34 · Moderate
Exposure 5/34 · Minimal