Zyxel security advisory for the remote code execution vulnerability of NAS products

Zyxel_Support · February 2020

The advisory page:
https://www.zyxel.com/support/remote-code-execution-vulnerability-of-NAS-products.shtml

Summary

Zyxel NAS (Network Attached Storage) and firewall products are affected by a remote code execution vulnerability. Users are advised to install the standard firmware patches or follow the workaround immediately for optimal protection.

What is the vulnerability?

A remote code execution vulnerability was identified in the weblogin.cgi program used in Zyxel NAS and firewall products. Missing authentication for the program could allow attackers to perform remote code execution via OS command injection.

What products are vulnerable—and what should you do?

After a thorough investigation of the complete product lines, we’ve confirmed that the vulnerability affects the following products running specific firmware versions:

NAS products running firmware version 5.21 and earlier.

We’ve identified the vulnerable products that are within their warranty and support period, as shown in the table below. For optimal protection, we urge users to install the standard firmware immediately.

Standard Availability
NAS326: Available now. Firmware V5.21(AAZF.7)C0
NAS520: Available now. Firmware V5.21(AASZ.3)C0
NAS540: Available now. Firmware V5.21(AATB.4)C0
NAS542: Available now. Firmware V5.21(ABAG.4)C0 (ftp://ftp2.zyxel.com/NAS542/firmware/NAS542_V5.21(ABAG.4)C0.zip)

An FAQ for NAS firmware update process is also available at https://homeforum.zyxel.com/discussion/3370/faq-upgrading-latest-nas-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-firmware#latest

For affected products that reached end-of-support in 2016 or earlier, firmware updates are no longer provided. We strongly recommend that users follow the workaround procedure, as detailed below, to remediate the vulnerability.
Affected models that are end-of-support:
NSA210, NSA220, NSA220+, NSA221, NSA310, NSA310S, NSA320, NSA320S, NSA325 and NSA325v2
Workaround: Do not leave the product directly exposed to the internet. If possible, connect it to a security router or firewall for additional protection.

Got a question or a tipoff?

Please contact your local service rep for further information or assistance. If you’ve found a vulnerability, we want to work with you to fix it—contact 'security@zyxel.com.tw' and we’ll get right back to you.

Acknowledgment

Thanks to Brian Krebs, an independent investigative journalist, for reporting the issue to us and CERT/CC for coordinating the disclosure process.

#NAS_May_2020

bene · February 2020

I have a NAS542 running at home. As soon as I heard from that problem today, I installed the hotfix. The problem is, now I cannot login anymore to the webinterface. The NAS did an automatic reboot and I still see my Samba shares. I can also login via ssh but using the same credentials, the webinterface says my password is wrong. How can I login again?

eozrocwd · February 2020

Do you mean when used the same password that you can login via SSH, but not able to login web interface? Please make sure the password is correct. Otherwise, you can reset NAS542 as default password.

User's Guide:
https://www.zyxel.com/support/download_landing/product/nas540_22.shtml?c=gb&l=en&pid=20131231165121&tab=User_s_Guide&pname=NAS540

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029482/uploads/editor/y8/zhf936hfq9jg.png

Michael1122 · February 2020

The same for me (NAS326). My old password is gone. "1234", the usual zyxel-bad-word doesn't work either.

bene · February 2020

I am 100% sure that it is the correct password. I use a password manager and I always use and used cope&paste to put the password. I had set the same password to login via SSH and in the webinterface. SSH is still working, weblogin not (as explained with copy&paste, that's why I can exclude typos 100%).
What else do I reset, with the described method? Is there any loss of data possible?

Teemo · February 2020

I have NAS326 and NAS540, both are updated this hotfix firmware.
But I don't encountered your's problem.

May I know does your NAS device set some special characters in password?

Cookiemomo · February 2020

Thanks for fix update... Downloading

Zyxel_Eric · February 2020

Dear All,

If you have occurred the issue that cannot access GUI via your original password after uploading the Hotfix firmware, please follow the below steps to reset your password.
1) Please process the reset button at the back of NAS for 2 seconds, and you will hear one beep sound, then release the button.
2) Please access the Web GUI, and log in with admin/ 1234 to set up your New password for NAS.

Please note,

1. Please don't contain any special character in your password.
2. This reset will not erase all configuration of NAS, it will only reset the password for admin and the Network IP.
3. If the IP of NAS was set for Manually, the IP would switch to Automatically after the reset. Please access Web GUI >> Control Panel >> Network >> TCP/IP >> Network Interface to reconfig the Network Settings.
4. This reset will not cause any data loss or damage in your NAS or Disks.
5. If there are other guest accounts in your NAS which contain special characters in their password, please inform the admin to change the password.

Best Regards,
Eric

MaccaL · February 2020

Also having this problem on NAS326. Here a more detailed explanation of what works and what does not:

- User admin cannot login via web interface.

- User admin cannot login via launching token based authentication from "DeskTop" from NAS Starter Utility.

- User admin can still login via ssh. This proves that password still works.

- All other users can login via web interface or token-based from NAS Starter Utility.

bene · February 2020

After the reset, I was able to set a new password and login again.
One question though: are you seriously saying, that special characters are not allowed in the password?