# CVE-2010-20103: ProFTPD 1.3.3c Backdoor Command Execution

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary shell commands with root privileges via a hidden backdoor in the ProFTPD FTP server.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 15 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xm7r-423x-5463

## What is CVE-2010-20103?

CVE-2010-20103 is a critical code injection vulnerability in ProFTPD (Professional FTP Daemon), published on 20 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-912 (Hidden Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-20103?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Proftpd Proftpd.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-20103?

No fix has been published for CVE-2010-20103 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2010-20103 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-20103 exists.

Public exploit code:

- ProFTPD 1.3.3c Backdoor Command Execution (metasploit)
- ProFTPd-1.3.3c - Backdoor Command Execution (nuclei)

## Other vulnerabilities in ProFTPD (Professional FTP Daemon)

- [CVE-2010-4221](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4221/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-4130](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4130/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2026-63090](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63090/): ProFTPD mod_sftp Heap Buffer Overflow via SFTP Packet Reassembly (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2026-35025](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35025/): ProFTPD ACL Bypass via /proc/self/root Path Prefix in RNFR (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2026-42167](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-42167/): SQL injection in ProFTPD (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-20103 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-20103 is a critical code injection vulnerability in ProFTPD (Professional FTP Daemon), published on 20 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-20103 exists.

Affected product: ProFTPD (Professional FTP Daemon). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-20103/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-20103/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-20103
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-20103
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-20103

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-20103/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.