CVE-2010-20103Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root command execution via hidden HELP trigger

Published Aug 20, 2025 · Updated Jul 15, 2026

Hidden functionality in ProFTPD 1.3.3c allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root through an unauthenticated FTP request. In the compromised src/help.c, the HELP handler compares its target with the hidden string ACIDBITCHEZ, then calls setuid(0), setgid(0), and system() to start a shell. Only daemons built from official source archives distributed from November 28 through December 2, 2010 contain the injected code; legitimate 1.3.3c builds do not.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability5.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hidden functionality in ProFTPD 1.3.3c allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root through an unauthenticated FTP request. In the compromised src/help.c, the HELP handler compares its target with the hidden string ACIDBITCHEZ, then calls setuid(0), setgid(0), and system() to start a shell. Only daemons built from official source archives distributed from November 28 through December 2, 2010 contain the injected code; legitimate 1.3.3c builds do not.

The record

CVE
CVE-2010-20103
Published
Aug 20, 2025
Updated
Jul 15, 2026
Vendor
ProFTPD Project
Product
ProFTPD
Classifications
CWE-912, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 20, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.3.3c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

ProFTPD Project · ProFTPDversion=1.3.3c

Published CVSS scores

9.3GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-912Hidden Functionality
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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