The good news is that the vsftpd 208 exploit has been patched in vsftpd version 2.3.4 and later. To mitigate the vulnerability, users can update their vsftpd installation to the latest version.
Simple implementations that don't require the Metasploit framework: HerculesRD's vsftpd 2.3.4 Exploit (Python 3). luijait's Exploit Script Nmap Script: You can also detect and trigger the backdoor using the Nmap NSE script Technical Review: How It Works In July 2011, the official vsftpd-2.3.4.tar.gz vsftpd 208 exploit github link
The exploit is famously simple. If a user tries to log in with a username that ends in a smiley face— :) —it triggers a hidden function called vsf_sysutil_extra() . RominaSR/pentesting-metasploit-vsFTPd - GitHub The good news is that the vsftpd 208
Unlike most software vulnerabilities which result from coding errors (bugs), this was a supply chain attack. The attacker(s) gained access to the VSFTPD distribution server and modified the source code file str.c . luijait's Exploit Script Nmap Script: You can also
In July 2011, the source code for vsftpd 2.3.4 was briefly replaced with a version containing a malicious backdoor. This wasn't an accidental bug; it was an intentional injection that allowed attackers to gain root access with a simple string. How It Works