# CVE-2021-38688: Improper Authentication in Qfile

> Attackers can bypass authentication in the QNAP Qfile Android app to compromise the application and access sensitive information.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2qvc-r469-79f4

## What is CVE-2021-38688?

CVE-2021-38688 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in QNAP Systems Inc. Qfile, published on 29 Dec 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An improper authentication vulnerability has been reported to affect Android App Qfile. If exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to compromise app and access information We have already fixed this vulnerability in the following versions of Qfile: Qfile 3.0.0.1105 and later

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-38688?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Qnap Qfile.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-38688?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-38688 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-38688 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38688 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-38688 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-38688 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in QNAP Systems Inc. Qfile, published on 29 Dec 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38688 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: QNAP Systems Inc. Qfile. 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-2021-38688/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38688/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38688
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38688
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38688

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38688/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.