CVE-2008-0882 in CUPS
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in the process_browse_data function in CUPS 1.3.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted UDP Browse packets to the cupsd port (631/udp), related to an unspecified manipulation of a remote printer. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2019
The CVE-2008-0882 vulnerability represents a critical double free memory error within the Common Unix Printing System version 1.3.5, specifically within the process_browse_data function. This flaw exists in the daemon process that handles network printing requests through the CUPS service running on port 631 using the UDP protocol. The vulnerability arises when the cupsd daemon receives malformed UDP browse packets that trigger improper memory management during the processing of remote printer information. The double free condition occurs when the same memory block is freed twice, leading to undefined behavior in the application's memory heap management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending specially crafted UDP packets to the CUPS daemon listening on port 631/udp, which triggers the vulnerable process_browse_data function. When the daemon processes these malformed packets, it fails to properly validate the incoming data structure, causing the memory management routines to attempt freeing the same memory location twice. This memory corruption can result in heap corruption that may lead to arbitrary code execution or complete daemon crash, effectively causing a denial of service condition that prevents legitimate printing operations from functioning. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates over the network without requiring authentication, making it accessible to remote attackers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the availability and integrity of print services within Unix-based systems that utilize CUPS 1.3.5. Organizations relying on network printing infrastructure face potential disruptions where legitimate print jobs cannot be processed, and the entire printing daemon may become unresponsive. The arbitrary code execution capability adds an additional layer of risk, as attackers could potentially gain control over the print server, which might serve as a foothold for further network infiltration. This vulnerability affects systems where CUPS is used as the primary printing system, particularly in enterprise environments where centralized print management is common.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-415, which describes double free conditions in memory management, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation of remote services. Mitigation strategies include immediate patching of CUPS to versions 1.3.6 or later where this vulnerability has been resolved, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to port 631/udp, and applying firewall rules to limit UDP broadcast traffic to the printing service. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling unnecessary printing protocols, monitoring for unusual UDP traffic patterns on port 631, and maintaining up-to-date vulnerability scanning procedures to identify affected systems. The fix implemented by the CUPS development team involved proper memory management and input validation within the process_browse_data function to prevent the double free condition from occurring during processing of malformed UDP browse packets.