CVE-2005-1179 in Workcentre M35
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in Xerox MicroServer Web Server for various WorkCentre products including M35/M45/M55 2.028.11.000 through 2.97.20.032 and 4.84.16.000 through 4.97.20.032, Pro 35/45/55 3.028.11.000 through 3.97.20.032, Pro 65/75/90 1.001.00.060 through 1.001.02.084, and others, related to SNMP authentication, allows remote attackers to modify system configuration, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-0703.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1179 represents a critical security flaw within the Xerox MicroServer Web Server component of various Xerox WorkCentre and Pro series multifunction devices. This issue specifically affects firmware versions ranging from 2.028.11.000 through 2.97.20.032 and 4.84.16.000 through 4.97.20.032 for WorkCentre models, along with corresponding versions for Pro series devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate SNMP authentication mechanisms that allow unauthorized remote attackers to manipulate system configurations without proper authorization. This represents a significant deviation from standard security practices where network services should enforce robust authentication before permitting configuration changes.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) authentication within the Xerox MicroServer implementation. SNMP is a widely used protocol for network management and device monitoring, but when improperly configured or implemented, it can become a vector for unauthorized system modifications. The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit weak or missing authentication checks during SNMP communication, enabling them to execute configuration changes that could compromise device integrity, network security, and operational stability. This weakness directly maps to CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in network services. The flaw essentially permits unauthenticated modification of critical system parameters through the SNMP interface, bypassing normal access controls and administrative procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network device compromise to potentially affect entire office network infrastructures. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to modify printer settings, alter network configurations, disable security features, or even redirect print jobs to malicious destinations. In enterprise environments, this could lead to data leakage, unauthorized access to sensitive documents, and disruption of critical printing services. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to the devices, making it particularly dangerous in networked office environments where multiple devices are interconnected. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. The ability to modify system configurations remotely creates opportunities for persistent access and further network infiltration.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected devices, disabling SNMP if not essential for operations, and applying available firmware updates from Xerox. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual SNMP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive inventories to identify all affected Xerox devices within their network infrastructure and establish monitoring procedures for unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication implementation in network services and demonstrates how seemingly minor protocol implementation flaws can create significant security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict SNMP traffic to trusted administrative hosts only, following principle of least privilege security models. Regular security assessments should include evaluation of network device configurations to identify similar authentication weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.