Issue

The curl external link application is a command line tool that is used to transfer data with support for many different protocols. Since curl supports SSL connections, it is an efficient way to download files from an FTP server running over SSL.

Resolution

FTP servers can run in implicit or explicit mode.

  • In implicit mode, the client connects to a dedicated port where SSL connections are always provided without being requested.
  • In explicit mode, the client initially connects via the traditional insecure port of 21 and then requests the secured SSL connection from the server.

List the files if the FTP server is running in implicit mode:

curl --verbose --ftp-ssl --user 'stark' --cipher 'DEFAULT:!DH' ftps://example.com:990

Download files if the FTP server is running in implicit mode:

curl  --verbose --ftp-ssl --user 'stark' --cipher 'DEFAULT:!DH' ftps://example.com:990/auditd.md -o ~/audit.md

List the files if the FTP server is running in explicit mode:

curl --verbose --ftp-ssl  --user 'bella' --cipher 'DEFAULT:!DH' ftp://example.com

Download files if the FTP server is running in explicit mode:

curl  --verbose --ftp-ssl --user 'bella' --cipher 'DEFAULT:!DH' ftp://example.com/image.png -o ~/image.png

NOTE: You will be prompted to enter the host password for the user.