CVE-2001-0044 in Markvision
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Lexmark MarkVision printer driver programs allows local users to gain privileges via long arguments to the cat_network, cat_paraller, and cat_serial commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0044 represents a critical security flaw affecting Lexmark MarkVision printer driver programs that enables local users to escalate privileges through buffer overflow conditions. This issue manifests in three specific commands: cat_network, cat_parallel, and cat_serial, all of which are susceptible to malformed input arguments that exceed allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within these printer driver utilities, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data. Such buffer overflows create opportunities for privilege escalation attacks where local users can potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges, effectively bypassing standard access controls and security boundaries that protect the underlying operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. These buffer overflow conditions occur when programs fail to properly check input lengths before copying data into fixed-length memory buffers. The attack vector specifically targets local users who have access to the affected printer driver utilities, making this a local privilege escalation vulnerability rather than a remote attack vector. The exploitation requires the attacker to have local system access and execute the vulnerable commands with specially crafted arguments that trigger the memory corruption. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', demonstrating how buffer overflows can be leveraged to gain elevated system privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-0044 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it represents a fundamental flaw in the printer driver architecture that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. When local users exploit this vulnerability, they can potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected system processes, which may include administrative rights depending on how the printer drivers are configured. The affected Lexmark MarkVision software typically runs with elevated privileges to manage printer configurations and network communications, making these buffer overflows particularly dangerous. The consequences include potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to network resources that the printer drivers may interface with. Organizations using these legacy printer drivers face significant risk as the vulnerability has existed since 2001 and may not have received appropriate patches or updates for modern operating systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0044 should focus on immediate remediation through patch management and system hardening measures. Organizations must ensure that all affected Lexmark MarkVision printer driver installations are updated with the latest security patches from Lexmark, though given the age of this vulnerability, backward compatibility issues may arise. System administrators should implement strict input validation controls and consider disabling unnecessary printer driver utilities that are not actively required for operations. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running printer driver processes with minimal necessary permissions and avoiding execution with elevated privileges. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the attack surface by restricting local access to systems running vulnerable printer drivers. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual command execution patterns involving the affected cat_network, cat_parallel, and cat_serial utilities, as these may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software within the organization's infrastructure, particularly in legacy systems where patching may not be feasible.