📄 Description (English)
CuteFTP 5.0 XP contains a buffer overflow vulnerability that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code by injecting malicious payload into the Site Manager label field. Attackers can craft a payload exceeding 520 bytes that overwrites the return address and executes shellcode when a shortcut is created and launched.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2018-25366 is a critical buffer overflow vulnerability in CuteFTP 5.0 XP that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code through the Site Manager label field. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction (creating and launching a shortcut), but provides complete code execution capability with a CVSS score of 8.4. No patch is available, making this a persistent threat for organizations still using legacy FTP clients.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 28, 2026 23:32
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily affects Saudi organizations using legacy CuteFTP 5.0 XP installations for file transfer operations. Most at-risk sectors include: Government agencies (NCA, CITC) managing legacy infrastructure; Banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions) with older workstations; Energy sector (ARAMCO, smaller oil companies) with legacy administrative systems; Telecommunications (STC, Mobily) with legacy network management tools. The local-only attack vector limits exposure but poses significant risk in shared workstation environments common in Saudi government and enterprise settings. Organizations with strict legacy system retention policies face elevated risk.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government
Banking
Energy
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Education
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Inventory all systems running CuteFTP 5.0 XP across the organization
2. Restrict local access to systems running CuteFTP through access controls and user privilege management
3. Disable CuteFTP if not actively required for business operations
4. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution
Compensating Controls (No Patch Available):
1. Migrate to modern SFTP clients (FileZilla, WinSCP, or native Windows SFTP) that receive regular security updates
2. Implement Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) at OS level
3. Run CuteFTP in restricted user accounts without administrative privileges
4. Monitor Site Manager configuration files for suspicious modifications
5. Implement file integrity monitoring on CuteFTP installation directories
6. Use network segmentation to isolate systems requiring legacy FTP access
Detection Rules:
1. Monitor for CuteFTP process creation with unusual parent processes
2. Alert on modifications to CuteFTP Site Manager configuration files exceeding normal size
3. Detect shellcode patterns in Site Manager label fields (payloads >520 bytes)
4. Monitor for unexpected child processes spawned from CuteFTP.exe
5. Track access to CuteFTP installation and configuration directories
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حصر جميع الأنظمة التي تعمل بـ CuteFTP 5.0 XP في المنظمة
2. تقييد الوصول المحلي للأنظمة التي تعمل بـ CuteFTP من خلال عناصر التحكم في الوصول وإدارة امتيازات المستخدم
3. تعطيل CuteFTP إذا لم يكن مطلوباً بنشاط للعمليات التجارية
4. تنفيذ قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تنفيذ الكود غير المصرح به
عناصر التحكم البديلة (لا يتوفر تصحيح):
1. الترقية إلى عملاء SFTP حديثة (FileZilla أو WinSCP) التي تتلقى تحديثات أمان منتظمة
2. تنفيذ Data Execution Prevention (DEP) و Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) على مستوى نظام التشغيل
3. تشغيل CuteFTP في حسابات مستخدم مقيدة بدون امتيازات إدارية
4. مراقبة ملفات تكوين Site Manager للتعديلات المريبة
5. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات على دلائل تثبيت CuteFTP
6. استخدام تقسيم الشبكة لعزل الأنظمة التي تتطلب وصول FTP القديم
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة إنشاء عملية CuteFTP مع عمليات الوالد غير المعتادة
2. التنبيه على التعديلات على ملفات تكوين Site Manager التي تتجاوز الحجم الطبيعي
3. كشف أنماط shellcode في حقول Site Manager label (الحمولات >520 بايت)
4. مراقبة العمليات الفرعية غير المتوقعة التي تم إنشاؤها من CuteFTP.exe
5. تتبع الوصول إلى دلائل تثبيت وتكوين CuteFTP
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.5.2.1 - User access management
A.5.2.3 - Management of privileged access rights
A.5.3.1 - Password management
A.6.2.1 - Restriction of access to information
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.2.1 - Installation of software on organizational assets
A.8.3.1 - Management of removable media
A.8.3.4 - Logging
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2 - Software inventory
PR.AC-1 - Access control policy
PR.AC-4 - Access rights management
PR.DS-5 - Encryption and key management
DE.CM-1 - Network monitoring
DE.CM-3 - Personnel activity monitoring
RS.MI-2 - Incident response procedures
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Information security policy
A.6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
A.6.2.1 - Information security awareness and training
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.2.1 - Privileged access rights
A.8.2.3 - Information access restriction
A.8.3.1 - Installation of software
A.8.3.4 - Logging
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
A.12.4.3 - Administrator and operator logs
🔗 References & Sources 3