Try using the passive command before using ls.
From FTP client, to check if the FTP server supports passive mode, after login, type quote PASV.
Following are connection examples to a vsftpd server with passive mode on and off
vsftpd with pasv_enable=NO:
# ftp localhost
Connected to localhost.localdomain.
220 (vsFTPd 2.3.5)
Name (localhost:john): anonymous
331 Please specify the password.
Password:
230 Login successful.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp> quote PASV
550 Permission denied.
ftp>
vsftpd with pasv_enable=YES:
# ftp localhost
Connected to localhost.localdomain.
220 (vsFTPd 2.3.5)
Name (localhost:john): anonymous
331 Please specify the password.
Password:
230 Login successful.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp> quote PASV
227 Entering Passive Mode (127,0,0,1,173,104).
ftp>