CVE-2026-22624 identifies a vulnerability in the HIKSEMI HS-AFS-S1H1 Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, specifically in version V5.10.10_Build_251126. The root cause is inadequate access control mechanisms that allow authenticated users to manipulate file resources belonging to other users without proper authorization. This means that once an attacker gains valid credentials—either through legitimate access or credential compromise—they can access or modify files that should be restricted, violating confidentiality principles. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality only (C:L), with no impact on integrity or availability. No known public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. The vulnerability highlights a common issue in NAS devices where multi-user access controls are insufficiently enforced, potentially allowing lateral movement or data leakage within an organization. The lack of patch links suggests that a fix may still be pending or not publicly released at the time of reporting.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality, as unauthorized users with valid credentials can access or manipulate other users' files on the affected NAS device. This could lead to exposure of sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, or personal information protected under GDPR. While the vulnerability does not directly impact system integrity or availability, unauthorized file manipulation could indirectly affect business operations or trust in data integrity. Organizations relying on HIKSEMI HS-AFS-S1H1 NAS devices for file storage and sharing, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, or government, may face increased insider threat risks or lateral movement by attackers who have compromised user credentials. The medium severity indicates that while the threat is not critical, it should be addressed promptly to prevent escalation. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future exploitation. Additionally, failure to remediate could lead to compliance issues under European data protection regulations if unauthorized data access occurs.

1. Apply vendor patches or firmware updates as soon as they become available to address the access control flaw. 2. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Implement strict user access policies and role-based access controls (RBAC) to limit user permissions to the minimum necessary. 4. Regularly audit and monitor NAS user activities and file access logs to detect unauthorized or anomalous file manipulations. 5. Segment NAS devices within the network to restrict access only to authorized users and systems. 6. Educate users about credential security and phishing risks to prevent unauthorized access. 7. Consider deploying network intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to identify suspicious NAS access patterns. 8. If possible, disable or restrict remote access to the NAS device unless strictly necessary and secured via VPN or other secure channels.