CVE-2024-53691Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root code execution via symlink-following decryption

Published Dec 6, 2024 · Updated Jan 24, 2025

Link following in affected QNAP QTS and QuTS hero 5.1.x and 5.2.x builds allows remote authenticated users to overwrite arbitrary files. An uploaded ZIP preserves a symbolic link, and File Station's decrypt-with-overwrite operation follows that link when writing decrypted content. A regular user with file-upload access can replace a root-executed CGI script and obtain code execution as root.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability22.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link following in affected QNAP QTS and QuTS hero 5.1.x and 5.2.x builds allows remote authenticated users to overwrite arbitrary files. An uploaded ZIP preserves a symbolic link, and File Station's decrypt-with-overwrite operation follows that link when writing decrypted content. A regular user with file-upload access can replace a root-executed CGI script and obtain code execution as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-53691
Published
Dec 6, 2024
Updated
Jan 24, 2025
Vendor
Linn Products Limited
Product
QuTS hero
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 6, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 24, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=h5.1.x <h5.1.8.2823 build 20240712
  2. Affected versionversion=h5.2.x <h5.2.0.2802 build 20240620

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Linn Products Limited · QuTS heroversion=h5.1.x <h5.1.8.2823 build 20240712; version=h5.2.x <h5.2.0.2802 build 20240620
Linn Products Limited · QTSversion=5.1.x <5.1.8.2823 build 20240712; version=5.2.x <5.2.0.2802 build 20240620

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.7QNAP Systems, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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