CVE-2024-53691
Qnap Quts Hero h5.1.0.2409 … h5.2.0.2789
Raw vector
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/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:XSummary
CVE-2024-53691 is a high-severity Link Following (CWE-59) vulnerability in Qnap Quts Hero. Its CVSS base score is 8.7 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Path Interception (T1034); ranked in the top 3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and AC-6 (Least Privilege) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
A link following vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-53691 and assigned CWE-59, affects multiple versions of QNAP's QTS and QuTS hero operating systems. The flaw permits unauthorized traversal of the file system to unintended locations when triggered by an attacker.
Remote attackers who have already obtained user-level access can exploit the issue to reach restricted paths on the affected device, potentially exposing or manipulating sensitive files. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.7, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability with network access and low attack complexity.
QNAP's security advisory QSA-24-28 states that the issue has been resolved in QTS 5.1.8.2823 build 20240712 and later, QTS 5.2.0.2802 build 20240620 and later, QuTS hero h5.1.8.2823 build 20240712 and later, and QuTS hero h5.2.0.2802 build 20240620 and later; administrators should apply these updates to eliminate the exposure.
The associated EPSS score currently stands at 0.4805 with a recorded peak of 0.4953, indicating moderate and relatively stable exploitation probability since disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-52034
Vulnerability Data
A link following vulnerability has been reported to affect several QNAP operating system versions. If exploited, the vulnerability could allow remote attackers who have gained user access to traverse the file system to unintended locations. We have already fixed the…
more
vulnerability in the following versions: QTS 5.1.8.2823 build 20240712 and later QTS 5.2.0.2802 build 20240620 and later QuTS hero h5.1.8.2823 build 20240712 and later QuTS hero h5.2.0.2802 build 20240620 and later
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
—
—
—
V15.4.2
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Proper enforcement of access authorizations on the resolved target resource stops a link from reaching an unintended object.
Least-privilege limits the damage an attacker can cause after following an unintended link.
Validating file-name inputs can reject or canonicalize names that resolve to links before access occurs.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure SDLC practices directly require code to validate paths and avoid unsafe link following.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing can detect link-following flaws before release.
Secure SDLC practices can mandate link-resolution checks and canonicalization before file access.
Application security requirements can explicitly require safe handling of symbolic links and path traversal.
Secure architecture principles include input validation and safe file-access design patterns.
Secure coding standards directly address canonicalization and symlink attacks during implementation.
Access-control rules can limit which files are reachable, reducing exposure to malicious links.