CVE-2006-6437 in WorkCentre
Summary
by MITRE
ops3-dmn in Xerox WorkCentre and WorkCentre Pro before 12.050.03.000, 13.x before 13.050.03.000, and 14.x before 14.050.03.000 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash and core dump) via a certain PS file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6437 affects the ops3-dmn component within Xerox WorkCentre and WorkCentre Pro multifunction devices across multiple software versions. This issue represents a significant denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt the normal operation of these critical business devices. The affected versions include all releases prior to 12.050.03.000, 13.x versions before 13.050.03.000, and 14.x versions before 14.050.03.000, indicating a widespread impact across the Xerox WorkCentre product line. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing certain PostScript files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where these devices handle untrusted print jobs from various sources.
The technical flaw resides in the ops3-dmn service's insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms when processing PostScript files. When an attacker crafts a malicious PS file with specific characteristics, the service fails to properly validate the input structure and content, leading to memory corruption or unexpected execution paths that ultimately result in application crash and core dump generation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-248, Uncaught Exception, as the system does not properly handle malformed input data. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution risk due to the ability to trigger system instability from external network access, though it specifically manifests as denial of service rather than direct privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as Xerox WorkCentre devices are critical components in enterprise environments where document management and printing services are essential for business continuity. When exploited, the denial of service condition causes the device to become unavailable for legitimate print jobs, potentially affecting entire departments or organizations depending on these devices. The core dump generation indicates that the system is not only crashing but also creating diagnostic information that could potentially be exploited further or provide attackers with insights into the device's internal state. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on continuous printing services for their operations. The attack vector requires only network access to send a malicious PostScript file, making it easily exploitable in environments where these devices are accessible from untrusted networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches released in versions 12.050.03.000, 13.050.03.000, and 14.050.03.000 respectively, as these contain the necessary fixes for the input validation and error handling issues. Network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to these devices from untrusted networks, and access controls should be strengthened to limit who can submit print jobs to these devices. Additionally, implementing print job filtering and content inspection systems can help prevent malicious PostScript files from reaching the vulnerable service. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004, Endpoint Denial of Service, and represents a classic example of how seemingly benign file processing can be weaponized for service disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual crash patterns or core dump generation that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates should be prioritized to prevent similar issues in other components of the device's software stack.