---
id: "CVE-2026-119147"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-119147"]
title: "ProFTPD: SFTP copy command lets logged-in users write to denied directories"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.3
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["mod_sftp", "proftpd", "runtime", "self-hosted", "sftp"]
not_affected_if: ["mod_sftp-disabled", "no-limit-write-rules", "no-sftp-users"]
published_at: "2026-10-30T12:16:35+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-30T12:30:23+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-30T12:33:00+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-119147", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-30T12:30:23+00:00"}]
---

# ProFTPD: SFTP copy command lets logged-in users write to denied directories

ProFTPD's mod_sftp copy-file extension skips Limit WRITE checks when creating new destination files. An authenticated SFTP user can copy any readable file to a new path in a directory where uploads are forbidden.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the installed ProFTPD version with `proftpd -v`
- Look for `mod_sftp` in the loaded modules and for `Limit WRITE` rules in proftpd.conf

## Fix

- ProFTPD before `1.3.9e` and `1.3.10rc5` are affected; move to `1.3.9e` or `1.3.10rc5` or later

## Timeline

- 2026-10-30T12:30:23+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-119147

## From the sources

ProFTPD before 1.3.9e and 1.3.10rc5 contains an authorization bypass in the mod_sftp copy-file extension handler that skips Limit WRITE checks for new destination files. Authenticated SFTP users can copy any readable file to a new path in write-denied directories, creating files where uploads are forbidden.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_
