CVE-2025-62848 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference) affecting QNAP Systems Inc.'s QTS operating system, specifically version 5.2.x. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to trigger a NULL pointer dereference condition, which causes the affected system to crash or become unresponsive, resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) attack. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction, making it remotely exploitable over the network with low attack complexity. The CVSS v4.0 base score of 8.1 reflects the high impact on system availability and the ease of exploitation. The vulnerability was reserved on October 24, 2025, and published on December 16, 2025. QNAP has addressed the issue in QTS 5.2.7.3297 build 20251024 and later, including QuTS hero variants. The flaw likely stems from improper input validation or error handling that leads to dereferencing a NULL pointer, causing the system process or kernel to crash. While no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to any organization relying on vulnerable QNAP NAS devices for storage, backup, or file sharing services. Disruption of these services can impact business continuity and data availability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-62848 is the potential for denial-of-service attacks that can disrupt critical storage and network-attached services provided by QNAP NAS devices. This can lead to operational downtime, loss of access to important data, and interruption of business processes dependent on these systems. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government agencies that rely heavily on QNAP devices for data storage and sharing are particularly vulnerable. The disruption could also affect backup and disaster recovery operations, increasing the risk of data loss or delayed recovery. Since the vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication, attackers can launch DoS attacks from external networks, potentially impacting organizations with internet-facing QNAP devices. The high availability impact can translate into financial losses, reputational damage, and compliance issues under regulations like GDPR if data availability is compromised.

European organizations should immediately verify the QTS version running on their QNAP NAS devices and upgrade to QTS 5.2.7.3297 build 20251024 or later, or the corresponding patched QuTS hero versions. Network administrators should restrict external access to QNAP management interfaces using firewalls and VPNs to reduce exposure. Implement network segmentation to isolate NAS devices from critical infrastructure and limit lateral movement in case of compromise. Enable and monitor logging on QNAP devices to detect unusual access patterns or service interruptions. Regularly audit and update firmware and software to ensure all security patches are applied promptly. Consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to identify and block exploitation attempts. Additionally, maintain robust backup strategies independent of the QNAP devices to ensure data availability in case of DoS attacks. Engage with QNAP support and subscribe to their security advisories for timely updates.