How severe is CVE-2020-9273?

CVE-2020-9273 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-9273 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 11% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-9273?

CVE-2020-9273 primarily affects Proftpd. In total, 11 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-9273?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-9273 published?

CVE-2020-9273 was published on 2020-02-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-9273

CVE-2020-9273 is a high-severity vulnerability in Proftpd with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 11% places it in the 95th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-416.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 9.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 11% (95th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-416
Affected product: Proftpd
Published: 2020-02-20
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

In ProFTPD 1.3.7, it is possible to corrupt the memory pool by interrupting the data transfer channel. This triggers a use-after-free in alloc_pool in pool.c, and possible remote code execution.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-9273?: In ProFTPD 1.3.7, it is possible to corrupt the memory pool by interrupting the data transfer channel. This triggers a use-after-free in alloc_pool in pool.c, and possible remote code execution.
How severe is CVE-2020-9273?: CVE-2020-9273 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-9273 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 11% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-9273?: CVE-2020-9273 primarily affects Proftpd. In total, 11 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-9273?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-9273 published?: CVE-2020-9273 was published on 2020-02-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (11)

cpe:2.3:a:proftpd:proftpd:1.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:opensuse:backports_sle:15.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:opensuse:backports_sle:15.0:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:siemens:simatic_net_cp_1545-1_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:siemens:simatic_net_cp_1543-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Proftpd

CVE-2015-3306 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The mod_copy module in ProFTPD 1.3.5 allows remote attackers to read and write to arbitrary files via the site cpfr and…
CVE-2010-4221 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the pr_netio_telnet_gets function in netio.c in ProFTPD before 1.3.3c allow…
CVE-2010-20103 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A malicious backdoor was embedded in the official ProFTPD 1.3.3c source tarball distributed between November 28 and…
CVE-2019-12815 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An arbitrary file copy vulnerability in mod_copy in ProFTPD up to 1.3.5b allows for remote code execution and…
CVE-2011-4130 — Critical (CVSS 9.0): Use-after-free vulnerability in the Response API in ProFTPD before 1.3.3g allows remote authenticated users to execute…
CVE-2026-35025 — High (CVSS 8.1): ProFTPD through 1.3.9b and 1.3.10rc2 contains an access control bypass vulnerability that allows authenticated FTP…

All CVEs affecting Proftpd →

Other CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-13782 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use after free in Browser in Google Chrome prior to 150.0.7871.47 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the…
CVE-2026-4725 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Graphics: Canvas2D component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox 149…
CVE-2026-4688 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Disability Access APIs component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox…
CVE-2025-24085 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3,…
CVE-2024-43102 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Concurrent removals of certain anonymous shared memory mappings by using the UMTX_SHM_DESTROY sub-request of…
CVE-2021-32495 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Radare2 has a use-after-free vulnerability in pyc parser's get_none_object function. Attacker can read freed memory…

Browse all CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities →