CVE-2025-53405
📋 TL;DR
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in QNAP operating systems allows remote attackers with administrator credentials to cause denial-of-service conditions. This affects QNAP NAS devices running vulnerable QTS and QuTS hero versions. The vulnerability requires administrative access to exploit.
💻 Affected Systems
- QNAP QTS
- QNAP QuTS hero
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system crash or unavailability of the QNAP device, disrupting all services running on it.
Likely Case
Temporary service interruption or system instability requiring manual intervention to restore functionality.
If Mitigated
No impact if proper access controls prevent unauthorized administrative access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires administrative access; complexity is low once credentials are obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: QTS 5.2.7.3256 build 20250913 or later, QuTS hero h5.2.7.3256 build 20250913 or later, QuTS hero h5.3.1.3250 build 20250912 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.qnap.com/en/security-advisory/qsa-25-50
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Log into QNAP web interface as admin. 2. Go to Control Panel > System > Firmware Update. 3. Check for updates and install the latest firmware. 4. Reboot the device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Administrative Access
allLimit administrative access to trusted IP addresses and use strong authentication.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate QNAP devices from untrusted networks.
- Enforce strong password policies and multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the firmware version in QNAP web interface: Control Panel > System > Firmware Update.Check Version:
ssh admin@qnap-ip 'cat /etc/config/uLinux.conf | grep version'Verify Fix Applied:
Verify the firmware version matches or exceeds the patched versions listed in the advisory.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected system crashes
- Kernel panic logs
- Failed authentication attempts followed by system instability
Network Indicators:
- Sudden drop in network services from QNAP device
- Unusual administrative login patterns
SIEM Query:
source="qnap" AND (event_type="system_crash" OR event_type="kernel_panic")