# CVE-2021-32523: QSAN Storage Manager - Improper Authorization

> Remote privileged users can bypass access controls to execute arbitrary commands in QSAN Storage Manager, requiring vendor consultation for mitigation.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8x6q-j5q5-748q

## What is CVE-2021-32523?

CVE-2021-32523 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in QSAN Storage Manager, published on 7 Jul 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper authorization vulnerability in QSAN Storage Manager allows remote privileged users to bypass the access control and execute arbitrary commands. Suggest contacting with QSAN and refer to recommendations in QSAN Document.

Weakness: CWE-285 (Improper Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-32523?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Qsan Storage Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-32523?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-32523 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-32523 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32523 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in QSAN Storage Manager

- [CVE-2021-32512](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32512/): QSAN Storage Manager - Command Injection Following via QuickInstall function (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32513](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32513/): QSAN Storage Manager - Command Injection Following via QsanTorture function (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32520](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32520/): QSAN Storage Manager - Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32524](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32524/): QSAN Storage Manager - Command Injection-3 (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2021-32525](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32525/): QSAN Storage Manager - Use of Hard-coded Password-2 (critical 9.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-32523 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-32523 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in QSAN Storage Manager, published on 7 Jul 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32523 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: QSAN Storage Manager. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32523/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32523/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-32523
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32523
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-32523

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32523/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.