# CVE-2012-10023: FreeFloat FTP Server USER Command Buffer Overflow

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on FreeFloat FTP Server by sending an overly long username string to the USER command.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.9 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/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:** 5 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 7 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v5vr-r7j6-q2w6

## What is CVE-2012-10023?

CVE-2012-10023 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in FreeFloat FTP Server, published on 5 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in FreeFloat FTP Server version 1.0.0. The server fails to properly validate input passed to the USER command, allowing remote attackers to overwrite memory and potentially execute arbitrary code. The flaw is triggered by sending an overly long username string, which overflows the buffer allocated for user authentication.

Weakness: CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-10023?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Freefloat Freefloat Ftp Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-10023?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-10023 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-10023 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-10023 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Free Float FTP Server USER Command Buffer Overflow (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in FreeFloat FTP Server

- [CVE-2012-5106](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5106/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2019-25614](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-25614/): Free Float FTP 1.0 STOR Command Remote Buffer Overflow (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2012-10030](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-10030/): FreeFloat FTP Server Arbitrary File Upload (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2025-5664](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-5664/): FreeFloat FTP Server RESTART Command buffer overflow (medium 6.9)
- [CVE-2025-5665](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-5665/): FreeFloat FTP Server XCWD Command buffer overflow (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-10023 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-10023 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in FreeFloat FTP Server, published on 5 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-2012-10023 exists.

Affected product: FreeFloat FTP Server. 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-2012-10023/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-10023/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-10023
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-10023
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-10023

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-10023/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.