CVE-2025-29876 in File Station
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2025
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability has been reported to affect File Station 5. If a remote attacker gains a user account, they can then exploit the vulnerability to launch a denial-of-service (DoS) attack.
We have already fixed the vulnerability in the following version: File Station 5 5.5.6.4847 and later
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within Synology's File Station 5 application that fundamentally compromises system stability and availability. The issue manifests when a remote attacker with valid user credentials executes specific malicious operations that trigger the application to attempt to access a null memory pointer. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, where the application fails to properly validate pointer values before attempting to dereference them. The vulnerability exists in the application's handling of user-supplied input or specific operational sequences that lead to the execution path where a null pointer is accessed without proper null checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability as it enables a remote authenticated attacker to deliberately induce a denial-of-service condition that can render the File Station service unavailable to legitimate users. When the null pointer dereference occurs, it typically results in an application crash or termination, requiring manual intervention to restore service availability. This DoS condition can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where file sharing services are critical for business operations, as it can disrupt file access, collaborative workflows, and data management processes. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a valid user account, making it accessible to both internal threat actors and external attackers who have obtained legitimate credentials through various means such as credential theft, social engineering, or brute force attacks.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it can be leveraged to create service disruption following initial access through credential compromise. The fact that the vulnerability is present in versions prior to 5.5.6.4847 indicates a regression or oversight in the application's input validation and error handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests or operations that force the application into an execution path where the null pointer dereference occurs, effectively causing the service to crash and become unavailable. The remediation provided through version 5.5.6.4847 demonstrates that the fix involves implementing proper null pointer validation and error handling mechanisms within the application's codebase, ensuring that all pointer operations include appropriate checks before dereferencing.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected File Station 5 installations to prevent potential exploitation and maintain service availability. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and defensive programming practices in enterprise applications, particularly those handling user authentication and file operations. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual application behavior or crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of credential compromise, as the vulnerability requires authenticated access to execute successfully. The incident highlights the necessity of comprehensive security testing including fuzzing and memory error detection tools to identify similar vulnerabilities in complex enterprise applications before they can be exploited in production environments.