CVE-2005-2645 in Document Centre 535
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in Xerox MicroServer Web Server in Document Centre 220 through 265, 332 and 340, 420 through 490, and 535 through 555 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2645 affects the Xerox MicroServer Web Server component found in various Document Centre models ranging from 220 through 265, 332 and 340, 420 through 490, and 535 through 555. This represents a significant security flaw within enterprise document management systems that are widely deployed in corporate environments. The affected devices operate as web servers that provide administrative interfaces for managing printer and multifunction device configurations, making them attractive targets for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to critical business infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically resides in the authentication mechanism of the embedded web server implementation, which fails to properly validate user credentials or session tokens during the access control process.
This authentication bypass vulnerability stems from improper implementation of access control checks within the Xerox MicroServer Web Server software stack. The flaw allows remote attackers to gain administrative access without providing valid credentials, effectively circumventing the intended security controls that should protect sensitive device configuration parameters and operational functions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides attackers with full administrative privileges over the affected devices, enabling them to modify device settings, access stored documents, monitor network traffic, and potentially establish persistent access points within the corporate network. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from any location with network connectivity to the affected devices, eliminating the need for physical access or local network presence.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations utilizing affected Xerox Document Centre models, as it creates a pathway for attackers to compromise critical business infrastructure. The affected devices typically serve as central points for document processing, printing, and network management functions within enterprise environments, making their compromise particularly dangerous. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can manipulate device configurations to redirect print jobs, modify security settings, or disable logging capabilities that would otherwise alert administrators to malicious activity. The vulnerability also presents risks for data exfiltration, as compromised devices may be used to collect sensitive information from print jobs or network communications, potentially leading to intellectual property theft or regulatory compliance violations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical business systems, deployment of network access controls to restrict remote access to administrative interfaces, and implementation of network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious authentication attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper handling of authentication tokens and credentials, while also mapping to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Device vendors should be contacted immediately to determine if firmware updates or patches are available, as the affected devices represent legacy systems that may no longer receive security updates from the manufacturer. Network administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all affected devices and implement temporary workarounds such as disabling remote web management interfaces until permanent solutions can be deployed. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures for networked devices and highlights the risks associated with legacy equipment that may lack proper security support from vendors.