CVE-2004-0801 in Foomatic
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in foomatic-rip in Foomatic before 3.0.2 allows local users or remote attackers with access to CUPS to execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0801 represents a critical security flaw within the foomatic-rip component of the Foomatic printing system suite. This issue affects versions prior to 3.0.2 and creates a significant attack surface for both local and remote adversaries who possess access to the Common Unix Printing System CUPS. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and command execution handling within the foomatic-rip utility, which is responsible for processing print jobs and converting them into formats suitable for various printer types. The flaw exists in how the system processes certain parameters and arguments passed to the print processing pipeline, creating opportunities for malicious command injection attacks.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can influence the input parameters that foomatic-rip processes during print job handling. The flaw allows for arbitrary command execution because the system fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into system commands or shell invocations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-78 category, which specifically addresses "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in OS Command Injection Attacks." The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through CUPS, which is a widely deployed printing system across various operating systems and network environments. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute malicious commands with the privileges of the printing service account, potentially leading to complete system compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-0801 extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to networked printing environments. When combined with CUPS access, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform reconnaissance, escalate privileges, or establish backdoors within printing infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning because CUPS typically runs with elevated privileges and has network accessibility, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell, and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it allows for both command execution and potential privilege elevation. Organizations running affected versions of Foomatic are at risk of unauthorized access to their printing infrastructure, which could lead to data exfiltration, system compromise, or disruption of printing services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0801 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates to Foomatic version 3.0.2 or later, which contain proper input validation and sanitization measures. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to CUPS services and restrict the attack surface. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary print services, implementing proper access controls for CUPS, and monitoring print job logs for suspicious activity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in system components that handle user input, particularly in services that operate with elevated privileges. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their printing infrastructure and maintain updated security patches to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in other system components. This vulnerability also highlights the need for proper input validation and command execution sanitization in all system utilities that interface with user-provided data, as the consequences of inadequate security measures can extend far beyond the immediate component affected.