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QtsOperating system · Qnap

CVE-2023-41280

HIGH · 7.2 CVSS v3.1 Published 2024-02-02
Mitigation only
No fix yet — a mitigation exists. There is no fixed release. A documented workaround reduces exposure in the meantime.
See remediation →
78/100
Remediation priority · High
Remotely reachable Zero-click

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
A buffer copy without checking size of input vulnerability has been reported to affect several QNAP operating system versions. If exploited, the vulnerability could allow authenticated administrators to execute code via a network. We have already fixed the vulnerability in the following versions: QTS 5.1.2.2533 build 20230926 and later QuTS hero h5.1.2.2534 build 20230927 and later QuTScloud c5.1.5.2651 and later

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis · high confidence

Buffer overflow vulnerability in QNAP operating systems where authenticated administrators can execute arbitrary code via network due to unchecked buffer copy size. This is a classic buffer copy without checking size of input vulnerability allowing remote code execution.

MitigationUpdate to fixed versions: QTS 5.1.2.2533+, QuTS hero h5.1.2.2534+, or QuTScloud c5.1.5.2651+. Since this requires admin authentication, enforce strong credentials and restrict admin network access.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
QtsOperating system
Affected:= 5.1.0.2348= 5.1.0.2399= 5.1.0.2418= 5.1.0.2444= 5.1.0.2466= 5.1.1.2491= 5.1.2.2533
Quts HeroOperating system
Affected:= h5.1.0.2409= h5.1.0.2424= h5.1.0.2453= h5.1.0.2466= h5.1.1.2488= h5.1.2.2534
QutscloudOperating system
Affected:= c5.1.0.2498

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
High
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Identify QNAP NAS operating system version
    Log into QNAP admin web interface, go to Control Panel > System > About, or via SSH run: cat /etc/config/version or getsysinfo | grep -i version
    Affected if The displayed version matches any of these: QTS 5.1.0.2348, 5.1.0.2399, 5.1.0.2418, 5.1.0.2444, 5.1.0.2466, 5.1.1.2491, 5.1.2.2533; QuTS hero h5.1.0.2409, h5.1.0.2424, h5.1.0.2453, h5.1.0.2466, h5.1.1.2488, h5.1.2.2534; or QuTScloud c5.1.0.2498
  2. Verify admin interface network accessibility
    Check if the QNAP admin web interface (port 8080 or 443) is exposed to untrusted networks by reviewing firewall rules or network configuration
    Affected if The admin interface is reachable from networks outside the trusted admin zone, as the vulnerability requires authenticated administrator access
  3. Confirm administrator accounts exist and are in use
    In QNAP admin interface, go to Control Panel > Privilege > Administrators to list admin accounts, or via SSH check /etc/config/passwd for admin users
    Affected if Administrator accounts are configured and the system accepts admin authentication, which is required for the exploit to function

You are affected if your QNAP device runs any of the listed versions AND the admin interface is network-accessible to potential attackers.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

dbcve · scoped
Mitigation available No clean upgrade yet — mitigate in the meantime
Mitigation

Update to fixed versions: QTS 5.1.2.2533+, QuTS hero h5.1.2.2534+, or QuTScloud c5.1.5.2651+. Since this requires admin authentication, enforce strong credentials and restrict admin network access.

Recommended fix High confidence

QTS 5.1.2.2533 (build 20230926 or later); QuTS hero h5.1.2.2534 (build 20230927 or later); QuTScloud c5.1.5.2651 (or later)

  1. 1. Identify which QNAP product is in use (QTS, QuTS hero, or QuTScloud)
  2. 2. Check the current firmware version in the system admin interface
  3. 3. If the version matches an affected release (QTS = 5.1.0.2348, 5.1.0.2399, 5.1.0.2418, or 5.1.0.2444 | QuTS hero = h5.1.0.2409, h5.1.0.2424, h5.1.0.2453, or h5.1.0.2466 | QuTScloud = c5.1.0.2498), plan for upgrade
  4. 4. Back up critical data and configurations before proceeding
  5. 5. Download the appropriate fixed firmware version from QNAP's official support site
  6. 6. Apply the firmware upgrade via the QNAP admin interface: go to Control Panel > System > Firm Update, or use the QNAP Utility
  7. 7. After upgrade, verify the system is running QTS 5.1.2.2533 (build 20230926) or later, QuTS hero h5.1.2.2534 (build 20230927) or later, or QuTScloud c5.1.5.2651 or later

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

Fix this in Qts Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation2.0 h
  • Implementation3.0 h
  • Testing2.0 h
  • Review / QA1.0 h
8.0 hours of engineering $1,420
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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2023-41280 in production — separate from our analysis above.

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What this is

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What belongs here
  • Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
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