CVE-2006-1139 in Copycentre C75
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the ESS/ Network Controller in Xerox CopyCentre and Xerox WorkCentre Pro, running software 1.001.02.073 or earlier, or 1.001.02.074 before 1.001.02.715, causes the Immediate Image Overwrite feature to fail after a power loss, which could leave data exposed to attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1139 affects Xerox CopyCentre and WorkCentre Pro devices operating with specific firmware versions, representing a critical security flaw in enterprise document management systems. This issue specifically targets the ESS/Network Controller component within these multifunction devices, which serve as central processing units for document handling, printing, and network communication functions. The affected systems operate with firmware versions 1.001.02.073 or earlier, or 1.001.02.074 before 1.001.02.715, indicating a widespread vulnerability across multiple device generations within the Xerox product line. The flaw manifests in the Immediate Image Overwrite feature, which is designed to securely erase sensitive data from device memory when documents are processed, particularly when handling confidential information in corporate environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of power loss events within the device's memory management system. When a power interruption occurs during the overwrite process, the system fails to properly complete the data destruction sequence, leaving residual information accessible to unauthorized parties. This represents a failure in implementing proper fault tolerance mechanisms and data sanitization protocols during unexpected shutdown conditions. The vulnerability creates a persistent security risk where sensitive information that should be immediately destroyed remains accessible in the device's memory, potentially exposing confidential documents, personal information, or proprietary business data. The flaw specifically impacts the Immediate Image Overwrite functionality, which is a critical security feature designed to prevent data recovery from device storage media after document processing.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Xerox devices for document processing, particularly those handling sensitive information such as financial records, medical data, or confidential business communications. The failure occurs after power loss events, making it exploitable during routine power fluctuations, outages, or system maintenance activities that might interrupt normal operations. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness by deliberately inducing power loss conditions or by accessing the device's memory through network interfaces or physical access points after such events have occurred. The vulnerability essentially creates a data exposure window where information that should be immediately destroyed remains recoverable, potentially leading to data breaches, regulatory violations, and significant financial and reputational damage to affected organizations. This issue directly impacts compliance with security standards such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 requirements for secure information handling and data destruction.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to versions 1.001.02.715 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for proper power loss handling and data sanitization. Additional protective measures include implementing physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to device memory, establishing regular power conditioning systems to minimize unexpected interruptions, and conducting thorough security assessments of all affected device models within the organization. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1103, which addresses improper handling of power loss conditions in computing systems, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1490, which covers data destruction and information manipulation. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to affected devices, while ensuring proper disposal procedures for devices that cannot be updated or replaced immediately. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and implementing comprehensive security policies for enterprise device management.