CVE-2006-2108 in 3122 Printer
Summary
by MITRE
parser.exe in Océ (OCE) 3121/3122 Printer allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash or reboot) via a long request, possibly triggering a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2108 affects the parser.exe component within Océ 3121 and 3122 printers, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the printer's parsing functionality, which processes incoming data requests from network clients. The affected system operates as a networked printing device that accepts print jobs and other data through various communication protocols, making it susceptible to exploitation by unauthorized users who can remotely submit malformed or excessively long requests to the device's parser service.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the parser.exe application, which fails to properly handle oversized data payloads during request processing. When a remote attacker sends a request containing an excessive amount of data, the parser component attempts to store this information in a fixed-size buffer without proper bounds checking mechanisms. This fundamental flaw in memory management creates a condition where the buffer overflow occurs, causing the parser.exe process to crash or reboot the entire printer system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically targeting the printer's communication protocols that handle incoming data from networked clients.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render the printer unusable for legitimate business operations. Organizations relying on these networked printing devices may experience significant downtime when attackers exploit this weakness, particularly in environments where continuous printing operations are critical. The vulnerability can be exploited from any remote location with network access to the affected printer, making it particularly dangerous in unsecured network environments. The printer's reboot or crash condition typically requires manual intervention to restore normal operations, potentially causing cascading effects in print queues and document management systems that depend on these devices for their functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit remote access to printer devices. Organizations should ensure that printer services are not directly exposed to untrusted networks and that appropriate firewall rules are configured to restrict communication to authorized endpoints only. The most effective immediate solution involves applying vendor-provided security patches or firmware updates that address the buffer overflow condition in parser.exe. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that printer devices are properly configured and up-to-date with security patches. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical example of how unvalidated input processing can lead to system instability and denial of service conditions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a denial of service attack vector that leverages application-level vulnerabilities to compromise system availability. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists and disabling unnecessary services on printer devices to minimize the attack surface and reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation.