CVE-2008-2940 in Linux Imaging And Printing Project
Summary
by MITRE
The alert-mailing implementation in HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) 1.6.7 allows local users to gain privileges and send e-mail messages from the root account via vectors related to the setalerts message, and lack of validation of the device URI associated with an event message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-2940 resides within the HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) software version 1.6.7, specifically targeting the alert-mailing functionality that enables system administrators to receive notifications about printer events. This implementation presents a critical privilege escalation vector that allows local attackers to elevate their system privileges and execute email operations with root-level permissions. The flaw manifests through improper validation mechanisms within the setalerts message processing, which fails to adequately verify the device URI associated with event notifications, creating an exploitable condition that bypasses normal access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the alert-mailing system's message handling process, where local users can craft malicious inputs that leverage the insufficient validation of device URIs. When the system processes these malformed messages, it fails to properly authenticate or authorize the originating user, allowing unauthorized individuals to inject commands or messages that are then executed with elevated privileges. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability that directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input validation practices. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" through the exploitation of software vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to send email messages from the root account, potentially allowing for further social engineering attacks or information exfiltration. Local users who can access the system can leverage this vulnerability to send malicious notifications that appear to originate from the system's root account, which could be used to deceive administrators or establish persistence within the network. The lack of proper validation of device URIs creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the alert system into executing arbitrary commands or sending unauthorized communications. This vulnerability affects systems where HPLIP is installed and configured to send email alerts, particularly those running on Linux distributions that utilize the HP Linux Imaging and Printing software stack.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2940 should focus on immediate patching of the HPLIP software to the latest available version that contains proper input validation and privilege control mechanisms. System administrators should disable unnecessary alert-mailing functionality when not required, and implement proper access controls to limit local user privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and validation within system components, particularly those that handle user-provided data and execute with elevated privileges. Network segmentation and monitoring of email traffic can help detect unauthorized email activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only authorized users have access to the affected system components and that email alerting mechanisms are properly configured with appropriate authentication and authorization controls. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing of system components that interact with external services and handle privilege escalation scenarios.