CVE-2019-7195 in QTS
Summary
by MITRE
This external control of file name or path vulnerability allows remote attackers to access or modify system files. To fix the vulnerability, QNAP recommend updating Photo Station to their latest versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7195 represents a critical external control of file name or path issue that affects QNAP Photo Station applications. This weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate file paths and potentially access or modify system files through unauthorized means. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input within the photo station application, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system's file handling mechanisms. Such flaws typically arise when applications fail to properly sanitize or validate file paths provided by external sources, allowing attackers to traverse directory structures and gain access to sensitive system resources.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-73, which describes "External Control of File Name or Path" - a well-documented weakness where applications use external input to construct file paths without adequate validation. The attack vector leverages the principle of path traversal, where malicious input can manipulate the application's intended file access behavior. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001, which covers "Data Staged: Local Data Staging" and T1021.002, "Remote Services: Telnet," as attackers can exploit the photo station service to access system files through network-based attacks. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal access controls and potentially execute arbitrary file operations on the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7195 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to read sensitive configuration files, modify system binaries, or even escalate privileges within the affected environment. The potential for data exfiltration increases significantly as attackers can access files outside the intended application scope, including system logs, user credentials, or other sensitive information stored on the device. This vulnerability particularly affects QNAP devices running vulnerable versions of Photo Station, which serves as a media management service that typically operates with elevated privileges to handle user media files and system resources.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies to prevent exploitation. The primary recommended approach involves updating Photo Station to the latest available versions, as QNAP has released patches specifically addressing this issue. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to affected systems, and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the photo station service from trusted networks only. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected services or applications within their environment. The implementation of input validation controls and the enforcement of least privilege principles can further reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should be conducted to ensure proper patch management and configuration hardening across all QNAP devices and similar network-attached storage systems.