# CVE-2019-12815: Path traversal in n/a

> An arbitrary file copy vulnerability in ProFTPD's mod_copy module allows remote attackers to execute code or disclose information without authentication.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Jul 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2019-12815, DLA-1873-1, DSA-4491-1, GHSA-f989-xw5v-4w5p, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-12815

## What is CVE-2019-12815?

CVE-2019-12815 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 19 Jul 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An arbitrary file copy vulnerability in mod_copy in ProFTPD up to 1.3.5b allows for remote code execution and information disclosure without authentication, a related issue to CVE-2015-3306.

Weakness: CWE-755 (Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-12815?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora, Proftpd Proftpd, Siemens Simatic Cp 1543-1 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-12815?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2019-12815 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-12815 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- ProFTPd mod_copy - arbitrary file copy without authentication (github_poc): https://github.com/KTN1990/CVE-2019-12815
- https://github.com/lcartey/proftpd-cve-2019-12815 (github_poc): https://github.com/lcartey/proftpd-cve-2019-12815

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-12815 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-12815 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 19 Jul 2019. 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-2019-12815 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. 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-2019-12815/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12815/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-12815
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-12815
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-12815

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12815/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.