CVE-2008-4419 in 9200C Digital Sender
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the HP JetDirect web administration interface in the HP-ChaiSOE 1.0 embedded web server on the LaserJet 9040mfp, LaserJet 9050mfp, and Color LaserJet 9500mfp before firmware 08.110.9; LaserJet 4345mfp and 9200C Digital Sender before firmware 09.120.9; Color LaserJet 4730mfp before firmware 46.200.9; LaserJet 2410, LaserJet 2420, and LaserJet 2430 before firmware 20080819 SPCL112A; LaserJet 4250 and LaserJet 4350 before firmware 20080819 SPCL015A; and LaserJet 9040 and LaserJet 9050 before firmware 20080819 SPCL110A allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via directory traversal sequences in the URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2019
The CVE-2008-4419 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the HP JetDirect web administration interface of multiple HP laserjet printers and multifunction devices. This vulnerability exists in the embedded web server component known as HP-ChaiSOE 1.0, which is present in various high-end printing equipment including the LaserJet 9040mfp, 9050mfp, Color LaserJet 9500mfp, and numerous other models across different firmware versions. The flaw specifically affects devices running firmware versions prior to the specified patches, creating a persistent security risk for organizations relying on these printing systems for document management and network operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted directory traversal sequences embedded within Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) requests sent to the affected web administration interface. When the embedded web server processes these malformed requests without proper input validation, it fails to sanitize user-supplied paths, allowing attackers to navigate beyond the intended document root directory. This improper input handling creates an opportunity for remote attackers to access arbitrary files stored on the device's file system, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, authentication credentials, and other system files that should remain protected from external access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to critical system components that could facilitate further exploitation attempts. Organizations utilizing these printers may face risks including unauthorized document access, potential system compromise through access to configuration files containing administrative credentials, and exposure of network infrastructure details that could aid in broader attack campaigns. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where these devices are connected to internal networks and may serve as entry points for lateral movement attacks, making the impact more severe than initially apparent.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically categorizing it under techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through network service exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to the specified versions mentioned in the vulnerability description, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and monitoring for suspicious URI access patterns. Additionally, administrators should consider disabling unnecessary web administration interfaces when not actively required for maintenance operations, as this reduces the attack surface for potential exploitation attempts.