CVE-2019-7194 QNAP Photo Station: file path flaw
In plain words: The program can be tricked into reading or writing files outside the folder it should stay in. Leaks files such as passwords and settings, or overwrites important ones.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Jun 22, 2022
What to do
- Install QNAP's security update for Photo Station. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- QNAP Photo Station Path Traversal Vulnerability
- Product
- QNAP Photo Station
- CISA description
- QNAP devices running Photo Station contain an external control of file name or path vulnerability allowing remote attackers to access or modify system files.
- Type of flaw
- File path flaw (CWE-22)
- Confirmed exploited
- Jun 8, 2022 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Jun 22, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2019-7194 ·
Questions about CVE-2019-7194
Is CVE-2019-7194 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2019-7194 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jun 8, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2019-7194?
Install QNAP's security update for Photo Station. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2019-7194?
Only if you use QNAP Photo Station. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.