CVE-2021-28799: Improper Authorization Vulnerability in HBS 3 (Hybrid Backup Sync)
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Now (action score 92/100)
- CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild (Mar 31, 2022); it is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Apr 21, 2022.
- A ready-made attack module is public (Nuclei); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 78.2% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.5% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- According to CISA the attack is automatable: targets can be found by mass scanning.
- According to the record, no fixed version is available yet.
Patch today or shut off access. Until a fix is released, restrict access to the affected component and follow the vendor's advisory.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · CISA KEV · FIRST EPSS
An improper authorization vulnerability has been reported to affect QNAP NAS running HBS 3 (Hybrid Backup Sync. ) If exploited, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to log in to a device. This issue affects: QNAP Systems Inc. HBS 3 versions prior to v16.0.0415 on QTS 4.5.2; versions prior to v3.0.210412 on QTS 4.3.6; versions prior to v3.0.210411 on QTS 4.3.4; versions prior to v3.0.210411 on QTS 4.3.3; versions prior to v16.0.0419 on QuTS hero h4.5.1; versions prior to v16.0.0419 on QuTScloud c4.5.1~c4.5.4. This issue does not affect: QNAP Systems Inc. HBS 2 . QNAP Systems Inc. HBS 1.3 .
- Published
- May 12, 2021
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 78.2% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-285
Report tools
Action score
92
Now
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 23 / 30 · 78.2%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 9.8
- CNA · qnap
- 10.0
- 0.2 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 31, 2022. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Apr 21, 2022.
Known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Get told when this record changes
- In CISA KEV: exploitation in the wild confirmed
- Weaponized exploit exists
- No fixed version yet
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| qnap | hybrid backup sync | cpe:2.3:a:qnap:hybrid_backup_sync |
| qnap | qts | cpe:2.3:o:qnap:qts |
| qnap | quts hero | cpe:2.3:o:qnap:quts_hero |
| qnap | qutscloud | cpe:2.3:o:qnap:qutscloud |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- qnap hybrid backup syncbefore 16.0.0415
- qnap hybrid backup syncbefore 3.0.210412
- qnap hybrid backup syncbefore 3.0.210411
- qnap hybrid backup syncbefore 16.0.0419
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (qnap). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
QNAP Systems Inc. HBS 1.3
- all versionsnot affected
QNAP Systems Inc. HBS 2
- all versionsnot affected
QNAP Systems Inc. HBS 3
- unspecified and later · before v16.0.0415affected
- unspecified and later · before v3.0.210412affected
- unspecified and later · before v3.0.210411affected
- unspecified and later · before v3.0.210411affected
- unspecified and later · before v16.0.0419affected
- unspecified and later · before v16.0.0419affected
Same product
qnap: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-28809Missing Authentication for Critical Function in RTRR Server in HBS344Plan
- CVE-2024-50388HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync39Monitor
- CVE-2025-62840HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync28Monitor
Published before and after this one in the same product
- Later →CVE-2024-53695Mar 7, 2025 · HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync25Monitor
- Later →CVE-2025-62842Jan 2, 2026 · HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync28Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
No fix version is recorded for this entry. Check the references for vendor advisories.
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Nuclei detection template ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei detection template | Nuclei template CVE-2021-28799 | — |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Published
- CISA KEV+322 d
- TodayNov 8, 2026+2005 d
No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-285 · Improper AuthorizationCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLsCAPEC-1likelihood: High · High
- Cross Zone ScriptingCAPEC-104likelihood: Medium · High
- Directory IndexingCAPEC-127likelihood: High · Medium
- Subverting Environment Variable ValuesCAPEC-13likelihood: High · Very High
- Using Malicious FilesCAPEC-17likelihood: High · Very High
- Manipulating Opaque Client-based Data TokensCAPEC-39likelihood: High · Medium
- Bypassing ATA Password SecurityCAPEC-402
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
- Data from Local SystemT1005
- Query RegistryT1012
- File and Directory DiscoveryT1083
- Access Token Manipulation:Token Impersonation/TheftT1134.001
- Use Alternate Authentication Material:Web Session CookieT1550.004
- Unsecured Credentials: Credentials in RegistryT1552.002
- Impair Defenses:Impair Command History LoggingT1562.003
- Data Manipulation: Transmitted Data ManipulationT1565.002
- Hijack Execution Flow: Executable Installer File Permissions WeaknessT1574.005
- Hijack Execution Flow:Dynamic Linker HijackingT1574.006
- Hijack Execution Flow:Path Interception by PATH Environment VariableT1574.007
- Hijack Execution Flow: ServicesFile Permissions WeaknessT1574.010
Change log
No changes recorded on tracked fields yet. Score, KEV, exploit maturity and fix status changes appear here.
References
Show all references (1 more)Show less
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.