CVE-2002-1367 in CUPS
Summary
by MITRE
Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) 1.1.14 through 1.1.17 allows remote attackers to add printers without authentication via a certain UDP packet, which can then be used to perform unauthorized activities such as stealing the local root certificate for the administration server via a "need authorization" page, as demonstrated by new-coke.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2019
The Common Unix Printing System CUPS vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1367 represents a critical security flaw in print server implementations that affected versions 1.1.14 through 1.1.17. This vulnerability stems from improper authentication mechanisms within the UDP packet handling process, allowing remote attackers to bypass necessary authorization checks when adding new printer configurations to the system. The flaw specifically exploits the lack of proper authentication validation in the printer addition protocol, creating an unauthorized access vector that could be leveraged by malicious actors to compromise print server security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of UDP packets that are typically used for printer discovery and configuration processes. When a remote attacker sends specially crafted UDP packets to a vulnerable CUPS server, the system fails to properly authenticate the request before allowing printer addition. This authentication bypass enables attackers to register new printers without proper authorization, effectively granting them administrative capabilities within the printing infrastructure. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, exploiting weaknesses in the communication handling between client and server components of the CUPS system.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1367 extends beyond simple unauthorized printer registration, as demonstrated by the exploitation technique involving the "need authorization" page. Attackers can leverage this initial unauthorized access to escalate their privileges and steal the local root certificate used for administration server authentication. This certificate theft represents a particularly dangerous aspect of the vulnerability, as it provides attackers with the means to gain full administrative control over the printing system and potentially access other network resources protected by the same authentication infrastructure. The exploitation methodology described in the vulnerability report, referencing the "new-coke" demonstration, shows how attackers can systematically leverage the initial unauthorized printer addition to obtain critical system credentials.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and maps to several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and credential access. The attack pattern follows a typical exploitation chain where initial unauthorized access is used to obtain administrative credentials, enabling further system compromise. Organizations running vulnerable CUPS versions face significant risks including unauthorized printing activities, potential data exfiltration through compromised print queues, and broader network infiltration opportunities. The UDP-based nature of the attack makes it particularly difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches, as the packets may appear as legitimate printer discovery traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1367 require immediate patching of affected CUPS versions to the latest stable releases that address the authentication bypass flaw. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit UDP access to print server components and deploy firewall rules that restrict unauthorized access to printer management ports. Additional protective measures include enabling proper authentication for all printer configuration activities, regularly auditing printer additions to the system, and implementing monitoring for unusual printer registration patterns. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary UDP services and ensuring that print server configurations properly enforce authentication requirements for all administrative functions. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication mechanisms in network services and the potential consequences of insufficient access control validation in system components.