CVE-2018-19953 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting QNAP's QTS. If exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious code, potentially compromising the security of the affected systems. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 6.1, indicating a medium severity level that organizations must address promptly.
The vulnerability, classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), has been analyzed and is being tracked for remediation by QNAP. Organizations using affected versions of QTS should take immediate action, as the risk to organizations includes the potential for unauthorized access and data manipulation.
The exploitation status indicates that there are currently no known public exploits available, but the vulnerability is included in the US Government's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, urging organizations to prioritize patching. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
QNAP has released fixes in several QTS versions to mitigate this vulnerability. Ensuring updates are applied is crucial for maintaining the integrity of network systems.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious code through cross-site scripting. It specifically affects the following versions of QTS: QTS 4.4.2.1231 (build 20200302), QTS 4.4.1.1201 (build 20200130), QTS 4.3.6.1218 (build 20200214), QTS 4.3.4.1190 (build 20200107), QTS 4.3.3.1161 (build 20200109), and QTS 4.2.6 (build 20200109).
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.1, categorized as medium severity. The attack vector is network-based, with a low attack complexity, requiring no privileges and user interaction.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 and CWE-80, indicating improper input validation and potential code injection risks.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of user input within the QTS web interface. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious scripts that execute within the context of the affected user's browser session, allowing unauthorized actions and data exposure.
The attack complexity is low, making it feasible for attackers to exploit the vulnerability with minimal effort. No privileges are required to execute the attack, but user interaction is necessary to trigger the malicious payload.
The impacts of this vulnerability include low confidentiality and integrity impacts, with no availability impact. However, the potential for unauthorized data manipulation and exposure poses serious risks.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment of QNAP's QTS with this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations, particularly those managing sensitive data or operations. The blast radius of a successful exploit could lead to unauthorized access to confidential information and data integrity issues, impacting operational continuity.
Organizations should address this vulnerability urgently, as it is listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. With an EPSS score of 0.315, which places it in the 97th percentile for risk, the urgency for remediation is critical.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | Yes |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include QTS versions prior to 4.4.2.1231, starting from 4.2.6. All versions of QTS from 4.3.1.0013 to 4.3.3.1161 are vulnerable, as well as several builds of QTS 4.2.6.
Mitigation & Remediation
QNAP has provided fixes in the following versions to remediate this vulnerability: QTS 4.4.2.1231, 4.4.1.1201, 4.3.6.1218, 4.3.4.1190, 4.3.3.1161, and 4.2.6. Organizations should apply updates per vendor instructions.
Continuous security testing is also recommended to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other parts of the system.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, monitor logs for unusual script executions and behavioral anomalies in web traffic targeting the QTS interface.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2018-19953 lies in its demonstration of how web applications can be vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks, which remain a prevalent threat in the cybersecurity landscape. Organizations must continually assess their defense strategies to mitigate such risks.
This vulnerability represents a broader trend of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that can lead to severe breaches if left unaddressed. Security teams should prioritize awareness and training on secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Implementing a robust vulnerability management program is essential for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Organizations should also consider engaging in penetration testing regularly to assess their security posture and resilience against similar attacks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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