CVE-2025-44013
📋 TL;DR
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in QNAP operating systems allows authenticated remote attackers to cause denial-of-service conditions. This affects QNAP NAS devices running vulnerable QTS and QuTS hero versions. Attackers need valid user credentials to exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- QNAP QTS
- QNAP QuTS hero
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system crash or unavailability of QNAP NAS services, disrupting all hosted applications and data access.
Likely Case
Service disruption affecting specific QNAP applications or services, requiring system reboot to restore functionality.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper access controls limiting attacker access and monitoring systems detecting abnormal behavior.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access. NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities are typically straightforward to trigger once access is obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: QTS 5.2.6.3195 build 20250715 and later, QuTS hero h5.2.6.3195 build 20250715 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.qnap.com/en/security-advisory/qsa-25-50
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Log into QNAP web interface as administrator. 2. Navigate to Control Panel > System > Firmware Update. 3. Check for updates and install QTS 5.2.6.3195 or QuTS hero h5.2.6.3195. 4. Reboot the NAS when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict User Access
allLimit user accounts to only necessary personnel and implement strong authentication controls.
Network Segmentation
allIsolate QNAP devices from untrusted networks and implement firewall rules to restrict access.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized authentication attempts
- Deploy network monitoring to detect DoS patterns and implement rate limiting
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check QNAP firmware version in Control Panel > System > Firmware Update. If version is below QTS 5.2.6.3195 or QuTS hero h5.2.6.3195, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
ssh admin@qnap-ip 'cat /etc/config/uLinux.conf | grep version' or check via web interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm firmware version shows QTS 5.2.6.3195 or higher, or QuTS hero h5.2.6.3195 or higher after update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple authentication attempts followed by system crash logs
- Kernel panic or system reboot events in logs
- Abnormal process termination events
Network Indicators:
- Unusual authentication patterns to QNAP management interfaces
- Sudden drop in NAS service availability
SIEM Query:
source="qnap_logs" AND (event_type="system_crash" OR event_type="kernel_panic") AND user_agent!="legitimate_admin"