# CVE-2010-4652: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can trigger a heap buffer overflow in ProFTPD's SQL module via crafted usernames, potentially causing crashes or executing arbitrary code.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Feb 2011
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2010-4652, GHSA-m7wr-xc9c-g7x3

## What is CVE-2010-4652?

CVE-2010-4652 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 2 Feb 2011. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Heap-based buffer overflow in the sql_prepare_where function (contrib/mod_sql.c) in ProFTPD before 1.3.3d, when mod_sql is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted username containing substitution tags, which are not properly handled during construction of an SQL query.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-4652?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Proftpd Proftpd.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-4652?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2010-4652 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2010-4652 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2010-4221](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4221/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-20103](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-20103/): ProFTPD 1.3.3c Backdoor Command Execution (critical 9.3)
- [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)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-4652 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-4652 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 2 Feb 2011. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2010-4652 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2010-4652/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4652/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-4652
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-4652
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-4652

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4652/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.