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CVE-2021-40524

Status: ModifiedHigh (7.5)—💥 Exploit

In Pure-FTPd before 1.0.50, an incorrect max_filesize quota mechanism in the server allows attackers to upload files of unbounded size, which may lead to denial of service or a server hang. This occurs because a certain greater-than-zero test does not anticipate an initial -1 value. (Versions 1.0.23 through 1.0.49 are affected.)

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

💥 Public exploits

Exploit code or detection templates are publicly available. This is not the same as confirmed active exploitation (KEV), but it raises the risk: patch with priority.

Affected technologies (1)

Pureftpd — Pure-ftpd

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2021-40524",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 5,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "accessComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 2.9,
        "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 10,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": false
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.5,
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"
        },
        "impactScore": 3.6,
        "exploitabilityScore": 3.9
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "cve@mitre.org",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "n/a",
          "product": "n/a",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "n/a"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2021-09-05T19:15:15.080",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/jedisct1/pure-ftpd/commit/37ad222868e52271905b94afea4fc780d83294b4",
      "tags": [
        "Patch",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/jedisct1/pure-ftpd/compare/1.0.49...1.0.50",
      "tags": [
        "Patch",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/jedisct1/pure-ftpd/pull/158",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/jedisct1/pure-ftpd/commit/37ad222868e52271905b94afea4fc780d83294b4",
      "tags": [
        "Patch",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/jedisct1/pure-ftpd/compare/1.0.49...1.0.50",
      "tags": [
        "Patch",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/jedisct1/pure-ftpd/pull/158",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/11/msg00003.html",
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-434"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "In Pure-FTPd before 1.0.50, an incorrect max_filesize quota mechanism in the server allows attackers to upload files of unbounded size, which may lead to denial of service or a server hang. This occurs because a certain greater-than-zero test does not anticipate an initial -1 value. (Versions 1.0.23 through 1.0.49 are affected.)"
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "En Pure-FTPd antes de la versión 1.0.50, un mecanismo incorrecto de cuota max_filesize en el servidor permite a los atacantes subir archivos de tamaño no limitado, lo que puede llevar a la denegación de servicio o a la caída del servidor. Esto ocurre porque una determinada prueba mayor que cero no anticipa un valor inicial de -1. (Están afectadas las versiones 1.0.23 a 1.0.49)"
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T04:07:05.163",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:pureftpd:pure-ftpd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "1BB7E569-40DC-47B8-AD6A-4F3EF8C0D092",
              "versionEndExcluding": "1.0.50",
              "versionStartIncluding": "1.0.23"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org"
}