External risk intelligence

QNAP NAS Command Injection Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2018-19949

A command injection vulnerability affects QNAP NAS devices. Attackers can run arbitrary commands remotely, posing a risk to data and systems. Mitigation involves applying vendor updates.

5Halo Surface Signal

OS Command Injection

Qnap Qts

before 4.2.64.3.1.0013 to before 4.3.3.11614.3.4 to before 4.3.4.11904.3.6 to before 4.3.6.12184.4.0 to before 4.4.1.12014.4.2 to before 4.4.2.12314.2.6

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2018-19949

This vulnerability affects QNAP NAS devices, which are frequently deployed as internet-facing network storage and management appliances. The product role includes an administrative web interface and file management services that are commonly exposed to the public internet for remote access in normal deployment scenarios.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This vulnerability impacts QNAP network-attached storage devices running QTS software. The core issue allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. This could lead to unauthorized access and control over sensitive data and business operations.

  • Vulnerable QNAP QTS software
  • Allows remote command execution
  • Compromise of data and systems

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This command injection vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. Exploitation requires systems to be exposed to the network. Attackers can leverage this exposure to gain unauthorized access and run malicious commands, potentially leading to broader system compromise.

  • Network exposure required.
  • Attacker accesses vulnerable system.
  • Attacker runs commands.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A command injection vulnerability in QNAP NAS devices could enable remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands. This poses a significant risk to affected organizations by potentially compromising systems and data. The vulnerability has been addressed by the vendor, and applying updates is recommended to mitigate the threat.

  • Likely attacker skill level: Low
  • Required access or conditions: Network access
  • Business risk or urgency: High

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The identified command injection vulnerability presents a critical risk, potentially allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands. This could impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems and data. The exploitability via a network attack vector with no user interaction required indicates a high potential for compromise.

  • Identify QNAP NAS devices with affected QTS versions.
  • Restrict external access to QNAP NAS devices.
  • Apply vendor-provided QTS updates and verify.
  • Monitor for anomalous activity.

Frequently asked questions

What is QNAP QTS and what is it used for?

QNAP QTS is the operating system for QNAP's Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices. It provides data storage, management, and features like multimedia, virtualization, and surveillance.

What kind of weakness does CVE-2018-19949 represent?

CVE-2018-19949 is a command injection vulnerability, specifically classified as CWE-78. This means it allows attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands by tricking the software into running unintended commands.

What conditions are needed to trigger this vulnerability?

Exploitation requires the QNAP system to be accessible over a network. The vulnerability is triggered when the software constructs OS commands using external input without properly neutralizing special characters. It does not require user interaction.

Why should I care about this vulnerability given my system's exposure?

QNAP NAS devices are often internet-facing for remote access, making them potential targets. This vulnerability's network-accessible nature, without requiring authentication or user interaction, presents a significant risk to data and systems.

How can I address this vulnerability?

QNAP has released updated versions of QTS to fix this issue. The recommended first step is to update your QNAP QTS software to a patched version.

References