CVE-2006-6470 in WorkCentre
Summary
by MITRE
The SNMP Agent 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 returns no error for a non-writable object, which has unknown impact and attack vectors. NOTE: due to the vagueness of the advisory, it is not clear whether this is a vulnerability, or a bug in a security feature.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-6470 pertains to the SNMP agent implementation within Xerox WorkCentre and WorkCentre Pro multifunction devices across multiple software versions. This issue manifests in the agent's handling of non-writable objects during SNMP operations, where the system fails to return appropriate error responses. The technical flaw represents a deviation from standard SNMP protocol behavior, where proper error codes should be communicated when attempting to write to objects that do not support modification. This behavior creates ambiguity in the device's security posture and operational reliability.
The vulnerability operates within the context of network management protocols, specifically SNMP version 1 and 2c implementations where the agent's response handling for write operations becomes problematic. When an SNMP manager attempts to modify a non-writable object, the agent should return a specific error code indicating the operation's failure. However, in affected Xerox devices, the agent fails to provide any error response, leaving the management system uncertain about the success or failure of the operation. This behavior creates a potential security risk as it may allow attackers to perform unauthorized operations without detection, as the system provides no feedback to indicate that a write attempt has been rejected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple functionality issues to potentially compromise the device's security configuration. The lack of error responses can mask unauthorized access attempts or configuration changes, making it difficult for administrators to detect malicious activity. This issue affects multiple generations of Xerox WorkCentre devices, suggesting a systemic problem in the SNMP agent implementation rather than an isolated bug. The vulnerability's classification as potentially problematic stems from the fact that proper error handling is fundamental to network management protocols, and the absence of such handling can create security blind spots.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and potentially CWE-254, concerning security features that do not properly handle errors. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which involves valid accounts and legitimate credentials. Attackers could exploit this behavior to perform stealthy configuration changes or to map the device's configuration space without detection, as the lack of error responses obscures their activities from monitoring systems. The ambiguity in the advisory regarding whether this represents a vulnerability or a security feature bug highlights the complexity of evaluating such issues, particularly when the intended behavior is not clearly defined.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating affected Xerox WorkCentre and WorkCentre Pro devices to versions 12.050.03.000, 13.050.03.000, or 14.050.03.000 respectively, which contain the necessary fixes for the SNMP agent's error handling behavior. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect anomalous SNMP traffic patterns that might indicate unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper error handling in network management systems and the need for comprehensive testing of security features in multifunction devices. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to ensure their Xerox devices are properly updated and monitored for similar issues in other network management components.