CVE-2017-10700 in NAS
Summary
by MITRE
In the medialibrary component in QNAP NAS 4.3.3.0229, an un-authenticated, remote attacker can execute arbitrary system commands as the root user of the NAS application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10700 resides within the medialibrary component of QNAP Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices running firmware version 4.3.3.0229. This represents a critical security flaw that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands with root privileges, fundamentally compromising the integrity and security posture of affected NAS systems. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and improper privilege handling within the medialibrary component, creating an exploitable entry point that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms.
This vulnerability manifests as a command injection flaw that operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the medialibrary functionality that processes media files and related metadata. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious commands through improperly sanitized input parameters, which are then executed with the highest privileges available on the system. The root cause can be categorized under CWE-77 as "Command Injection," where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or validation. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or prior authentication credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where NAS devices are exposed to external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as the attacker gains complete control over the affected NAS device with root privileges. This elevated access level allows for complete system compromise, including the ability to modify or delete files, install malicious software, steal sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that many NAS devices serve as central repositories for critical business data, personal information, and media content, making successful exploitation a severe security incident. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of system commands through the compromised application interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10700 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from QNAP to address the underlying command injection vulnerability. Network administrators should implement strict firewall rules to restrict access to the NAS device from untrusted networks, particularly blocking the specific ports used by the medialibrary component. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing network segmentation, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and prompt patch management, as the flaw existed in a widely deployed version of QNAP firmware, demonstrating how common security issues can affect substantial user bases. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring system logs for unusual command execution activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.