CVE-2018-13288 in File Station
Summary
by MITRE
Information exposure vulnerability in SYNO.FolderSharing.List in Synology File Station before 1.2.3-0252 and before 1.1.5-0125 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via the (1) folder_path or (2) real_path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13288 represents an information exposure flaw within Synology File Station's SYNO.FolderSharing.List API endpoint. This critical security weakness affects versions prior to 1.2.3-0252 and 1.1.5-0125, creating a pathway for remote attackers to extract sensitive data through manipulation of specific parameters. The vulnerability specifically targets the folder_path and real_path parameters, which when improperly handled, can disclose directory structures and file system information that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the File Station's folder sharing functionality. When attackers submit maliciously crafted folder_path or real_path values to the SYNO.FolderSharing.List endpoint, the system fails to properly sanitize or restrict these inputs, resulting in information leakage that can reveal sensitive directory hierarchies, file permissions, and potentially user-specific data. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control as classified under CWE-284, where improper privileges allow unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where Synology devices are accessible to external parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked directory information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can leverage the exposed folder structures to plan targeted attacks against specific directories, identify sensitive files, or map network resources for further exploitation. This information exposure creates opportunities for privilege escalation, lateral movement, and data exfiltration within compromised environments. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as it enables adversaries to gather detailed information about file systems and directory structures without direct user interaction, potentially leading to more severe compromise scenarios.
Organizations utilizing affected Synology File Station versions face significant security risks that require immediate remediation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in web applications, particularly those handling file system operations. System administrators should prioritize updating to patched versions that address this information exposure flaw, while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additional mitigations include restricting external access to File Station services, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Synology ecosystem. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding practices to prevent unauthorized information disclosure through API endpoints.