CVE-1999-0564 in Host
Summary
by MITRE
An attacker can force a printer to print arbitrary documents (e.g. if the printer doesn't require a password) or to become disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical weakness in printer security architecture that allows unauthorized users to manipulate print jobs and potentially disrupt printing operations. The flaw exists when printers lack proper authentication mechanisms, enabling attackers to submit arbitrary print jobs without requiring authorization. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of insufficient authentication controls and can be classified as a weakness in the printer's access control implementation. The technical nature of this issue stems from the absence of mandatory user authentication before processing print requests, creating an open door for malicious actors to exploit the printing infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-1999-0564 extends beyond simple unauthorized printing to encompass potential service disruption and data exposure risks. When printers do not require passwords or authentication, they become easy targets for attackers who can flood the print queue with malicious documents, consume resources, or even disable the printer entirely. This vulnerability directly affects the availability and integrity of printing services within networked environments, as attackers can cause denial of service conditions by overwhelming print queues or submitting harmful print jobs. The attack surface expands when considering that many printers are connected to corporate networks and may have access to sensitive documents or network resources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1499 for endpoint denial of service. The weakness demonstrates poor implementation of the principle of least privilege, where printers should require authentication to prevent unauthorized access to printing resources. This issue is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where printers may be configured to automatically print documents from networked computers without requiring user confirmation. The vulnerability can be exploited through various means including direct network access, network scanning, or by leveraging compromised network credentials to submit malicious print jobs.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigations including mandatory user authentication for all print jobs, configuring printers to require passwords or authentication tokens before processing documents. Network segmentation and access control lists should be deployed to restrict direct access to printing resources from unauthorized network segments. Printer configurations should enforce strict access controls and implement print job queuing with proper authorization checks. Regular security audits should verify that printers are not configured with default or weak authentication mechanisms, and that proper logging and monitoring are enabled to detect unauthorized print activity. The implementation of secure printing solutions that require user authentication before document processing provides the most effective defense against this vulnerability.