CVE-2017-11153 in Photo Station
Summary
by MITRE
Deserialization vulnerability in synophoto_csPhotoMisc.php in Synology Photo Station before 6.7.3-3432 and 6.3-2967 allows remote attackers to gain administrator privileges via a crafted serialized payload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11153 represents a critical deserialization flaw within Synology Photo Station software that affects versions prior to 6.7.3-3432 and 6.3-2967. This deserialization vulnerability exists in the synophoto_csPhotoMisc.php component of the Photo Station application, which is part of Synology's DiskStation Manager ecosystem. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges to administrator level access through the manipulation of serialized data structures. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied serialized objects that are processed by the application's deserialization mechanism.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of insecure deserialization as defined by CWE-502, which occurs when applications deserialize untrusted data without proper validation or sanitization measures. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious serialized payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable Photo Station component, can trigger unintended behavior within the application's execution environment. The deserialization process in PHP applications typically involves converting serialized data back into objects, but when this process lacks proper security controls, attackers can inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the affected application. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely, making it a significant threat to network security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected Synology devices. Once exploited, the malicious payload can enable unauthorized access to all stored photos, user accounts, and system configurations, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, and further lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects Synology devices running Photo Station versions that are commonly deployed in both home and enterprise environments, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on Synology storage solutions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, modify system files, and potentially use the compromised device as a foothold for attacking other systems within the network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of official patches provided by Synology, specifically updating to versions 6.7.3-3432 or 6.3-2967 and later. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while applying the principle of least privilege to limit the potential damage from any successful attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in preventing deserialization attacks, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1548.001 for abuse of privileges. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their Synology installations and implement additional security controls including web application firewalls, regular security audits, and continuous monitoring of system logs for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.