CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-0142NVD status: Modified

DiskStation Manager (DSM): Uncontrolled Search Path Element

CVE-2023-0142 is a high-severity uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in DiskStation Manager (DSM) from Synology, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 7.1-42661, 7.0.1-42218-7, 6.2.4-25556-8 as the first without the flaw, so updating DiskStation Manager (DSM) to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.97% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 62% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update DiskStation Manager (DSM) to 7.1-42661 or 7.0.1-42218-7 or 6.2.4-25556-8, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Unified Controller (DSMUC) to 3.1.* or a later version.
  3. Update Synology Router Manager (SRM) to 1.3.* or 1.2.*, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on synology.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
SynologyDiskStation Manager (DSM)7.1 up to, but not including, 7.1-42661; 7.0 up to, but not including, 7.0.1-42218-7; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.2.4-25556-87.1-42661, 7.0.1-42218-7, 6.2.4-25556-8
SynologyUnified Controller (DSMUC)3.1 up to, but not including, 3.1.*3.1.*
SynologySynology Router Manager (SRM)1.3 up to, but not including, 1.3.*; 1.2 up to, but not including, 1.2.*1.3.*, 1.2.*
SynologyDiskstation Manager Unified Controller3.1Not stated
SynologyRouter Manager1.2 up to, but not including, 1.3.1-9346; 1.3.1-93461.3.1-9346
SynologyDiskstation Manager6.2 up to, but not including, 7.1-426617.1-42661

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.16.5MediumCNA (synology.com)
CVSS 3.18.1HighNVD

Official description

Uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in Backup Management functionality in Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) before 6.2.4-25556-8, 7.0.1-42218-7 and 7.1-42661 allows remote authenticated users with administrator privileges to read or write arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Search Path Element

The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Hard-code the search path to a set of known-safe values (such as system directories), or only allow them to be specified by the administrator in a configuration file. Do not allow these settings to be modified by an external party. Be careful to avoid related weaknesses such as CWE-426 and CWE-428.
  • When invoking other programs, specify those programs using fully-qualified pathnames. While this is an effective approach, code that uses fully-qualified pathnames might not be portable to other systems that do not use the same pathnames. The portability can be improved by locating the full-qualified paths in a centralized, easily-modifiable location within the source code, and having the code refer to these paths.
  • Remove or restrict all environment settings before invoking other programs. This includes the PATH environment variable, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and other settings that identify the location of code libraries, and any application-specific search paths.

More Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities (CWE-427)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in DiskStation Manager (DSM)

All DiskStation Manager (DSM) vulnerabilities

Recent Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities

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