How To Set up a VSFTPD Server on an Ubuntu
Brief Description
FTP data is usually insecure since information (usernames, passwords, data) is transmitted unencrypted in clear-text. It’s very IMPORTANT to encrypt the FTP connections to Linux FTP Servers using VSFTPD (SSL/TLS).
This short tutorial is highly important for Intermediate Level System Administrators and Users who usually transfer highly confidential data (documents, images, e.t.c) to their company’s or organization’s Linux FTP servers.
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Step 1: Installation
Install vsftpd and openssl packages on the Ubuntu 16.04 Linux server
$ sudo apt-get install vsftpd openssl
Generate a self-signed certificate to secure the FTP server connections.
$ sudo openssl req -x509 -nodes -days 365 -newkey rsa:2048 –keyout /etc/ssl/private/vsftpd.key -out /etc/ssl/private/vsftpd.pem
Step 2: Configuration
Edit the configuration file /etc/vsftpd.conf
$ sudo cp /etc/vsftpd.conf /etc/vsftpd.conf.bak $ sudo vim /etc/vsftpd.conf
Ensure configurations as shown below:
# Allow anonymous FTP? (Disabled by default). anonymous_enable=NO # # Uncomment this to allow local users to log in. local_enable=YES # # Uncomment this to enable any form of FTP write command. write_enable=YES
# This option specifies the location of the RSA certificate to use for SSL # encrypted connections. rsa_cert_file=/etc/ssl/private/vsftpd.pem rsa_private_key_file=/etc/ssl/private/vsftpd.key ssl_enable=YES #DO NOT allow anonymous users to use SSL allow_anon_ssl=NO #Force local users to use SSL force_local_data_ssl=YES force_local_logins_ssl=YES #Enable latest SSL and TLS version 1 and disable old versions ssl_tlsv1=YES ssl_sslv2=NO ssl_sslv3=NO #Enter username in local_root directory to enable this config to work for ftp users added in future user_sub_token=$USER #Path to share and send files from local_root=/srv/ftp/$USER #Users in the vsftpd_userlist are the ONLY ones allowed for FTP access userlist_enable=YES userlist_file=/etc/vsftpd_userlist userlist_deny=NO
Start vsftpd service
$ sudo systemctl start vsftpd $ sudo systemctl status vsftpd
Step 3: Configure Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW)
Enable vsftpd connections via ufw
$ sudo ufw status
Special Note: By-default, ufw is usually installed in Ubuntu, however if for some reasons it’s not there you can install using
$ sudo apt-get install ufw
Ensure the firewall allows FTP connections
$ sudo ufw allow 20/tcp $ sudo ufw allow 21/tcp $ sudo ufw status
Special Note: Vsftpd also uses ssh port i.e. 22 so ensure ufw allows for ssh connections
Step 4: Add FTP User
Switch to root user and enter root password
$ su –
As root, create user that’s allowed to login into mark’s ftp directory
# adduser --home /srv/ftp/mark mark
-d Set /srv/ftp/mark as the home directory for ftpuser
Set the ftp root directory to be owned by ftpuser
# chown –R mark /srv/ftp/mark
Switch back from root user
# su - linuxuser
Include mark in /etc/vsftpd_userlist to be allowed ftp access
# sudo vim /etc/vsftpd_userlist
Then enter “mark” to the file.
Start the VSFTPD service
$ sudo systemctl restart vsftpd
Confirm VSFTPD service is running
$ sudo systemctl status vsftpd
Step 5: Conduct FTP Login Test
Login from a Linux Local Machine
$ ftp -p ubuntu16-hostadvice
If you try to login the default way without SSL, it will fail to login and produce an error as shown below:
Now try accessing using SSL i.e SFTP (Secure FTP) Protocol as shown below:
$ sftp mark@ubuntu16-hostadvice
Note the successful connection.
Special Note: Please note this will work ONLY IF either of the following are done:
Password Authentication is enabled in /etc/ssh/sshd_config/
If Password Authentication is disabled and only SSH Keys Private Authentication is enabled, you have to configure ssh keys private key authentication for that specific ftp user with the Linux Server.
