CVE-2008-7113 in Scanner File Utility
Summary
by MITRE
The Scanner File Utility (aka listener) in Kyocera Mita (KM) 3.3.0.1 uses a small space of predictable user identification numbers for access control, which allows remote attackers to upload documents via a brute force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-7113 affects the Scanner File Utility component of Kyocera Mita 3.3.0.1 devices, which serves as a listener service for document processing and management. This flaw resides in the access control mechanism implementation where the system employs a limited and predictable range of user identification numbers for authentication purposes. The scanner file utility acts as a network service that accepts document uploads from remote clients, making it a critical component in the device's security architecture. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication process that occurs during document upload operations, where the system relies on a small pool of predictable identifiers rather than implementing robust cryptographic methods for user identification.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of insufficient entropy in user identification number generation, creating a scenario where attackers can systematically guess valid user credentials through brute force techniques. This predictable numbering scheme represents a fundamental weakness in the authentication system's design, as it violates security principles that require unpredictable and sufficiently large credential spaces to prevent automated attack vectors. The vulnerability creates a direct pathway for unauthorized access to the document upload functionality, allowing remote attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain access to the scanner utility's capabilities. This weakness aligns with CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficiently random values in security-critical contexts, and demonstrates poor implementation of cryptographic randomness requirements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables remote attackers to upload arbitrary documents to the Kyocera Mita device, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or disruption of legitimate document processing operations. The vulnerability affects networked scanning environments where the device operates as a server accepting uploads from multiple clients, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where document security and access control are paramount. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized document processing, potentially injecting malicious content into the scanning workflow, or to gain persistent access to the device's document storage and processing capabilities. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for privilege escalation and lateral movement within networks where such devices are deployed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust authentication mechanisms that utilize sufficiently large and unpredictable user identification numbers, typically through cryptographic random number generation. Organizations should consider updating to newer firmware versions that address the predictable identifier issue, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the scanner utility, and deploying additional access controls such as firewall rules that restrict connections to the vulnerable service. The implementation should align with security frameworks like NIST SP 800-63 for authentication management and follow ATT&CK technique T1190 for identifying and mitigating remote service vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of authentication attempts that may indicate brute force activity against the vulnerable service. Regular security assessments should verify that authentication mechanisms use sufficient entropy and that access control systems properly implement cryptographic security measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future deployments.