CVE-2026-44240
CWE-400Published: May 12, 2026· Updated: May 14, 2026
Official Description
basic-ftp is an FTP client for Node.js. Prior to 5.3.1, basic-ftp is vulnerable to client-side denial of service when parsing FTP control-channel multiline responses. A malicious or compromised FTP server can send an unterminated multiline response during the initial FTP banner phase, before authentication. The client keeps appending attacker-controlled data into FtpContext._partialResponse and repeatedly reparses the accumulated buffer without enforcing a maximum control response size. As a result, an application using basic-ftp can remain stuck in connect() while memory and CPU usage grow under attacker-controlled input. This can lead to process-level denial of service, container OOM kills, worker restarts, queue backlog, or service degradation in applications that automatically connect to FTP endpoints. This vulnerability is fixed in 5.3.1.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-44240 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (2)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-400)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-44240 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts