CVE-2000-0574: FTP servers such as OpenBSD ftpd, NetBSD ftpd, ProFTPd and Opieftpd do not properly cleanse untrusted format s

This week

MEDIUM 5.0DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2000-0574 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting ftpd, wu-ftpd. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

FTP servers such as OpenBSD ftpd, NetBSD ftpd, ProFTPd and Opieftpd do not properly cleanse untrusted format strings that are used in the setproctitle function (sometimes called by set_proc_title), which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary commands.

Why this priority

EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	58.9% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2000-07-07
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: openbsd · washington university

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2000-07-07 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 21:52 UTCUpdated Record last modified

openbsd ftpd DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.51 · 5.60

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.51

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ftpd || rpm -q ftpd || ftpd --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.51 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ftpd sudo apt install ftpd=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.51> sudo apt-mark hold ftpd

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list ftpd sudo dnf downgrade ftpd-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.51> sudo dnf versionlock add ftpd

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

washington university wu-ftpd DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.4.2_beta1 · 2.4.2_beta18 · 2.4.2_beta18_vr4 · 2.4.2_beta18_vr5 · 2.4.2_beta18_vr6 · 2.4.2_beta18_vr7 · 2.4.2_beta18_vr8 · 2.4.2_beta18_vr9

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.4.2_beta1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy wu-ftpd || rpm -q wu-ftpd || wu-ftpd --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.4.2_beta1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison wu-ftpd sudo apt install wu-ftpd=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.4.2_beta1> sudo apt-mark hold wu-ftpd

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list wu-ftpd sudo dnf downgrade wu-ftpd-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.4.2_beta1> sudo dnf versionlock add wu-ftpd

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: OpenBSD - 'ftp' Local Overflow

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2000-0574?

ftpd: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; wu-ftpd: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2000-0574 being exploited?

CVE-2000-0574 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2000-0574 affect?

CVE-2000-0574 affects ftpd, wu-ftpd. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). FTP servers such as OpenBSD ftpd, NetBSD ftpd, ProFTPd and Opieftpd do not properly cleanse untrusted format strings that are used in the setproctitle function (sometimes called by set_proc_title), which allows remote attackers to cause a d

How urgent is CVE-2000-0574?

Priority 47/100. EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

Software pages

ProFTPD vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-45198 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE UPGRADE ftpd before "NetBSD-ftpd 20230930" can leak information about the host filesystem before authentication via an
CVE-2013-2512 CRITICAL 9.8 DOWNGRADE The ftpd gem 0.2.1 for Ruby allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via shell metacharacters
CVE-2006-7094 HIGH 8.5 MITIGATE ftpd, as used by Gentoo and Debian Linux, sets the gid to the effective uid instead of the effective group id
CVE-2002-2245 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE ftpd in NetBSD 1.5 through 1.5.3 and 1.6 does not properly quote a digit in response to a STAT command for a f

References

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