CVE-2009-0940 in Laserjet 4240
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the HP Embedded Web Server (EWS) on HP LaserJet Printers, Edgeline Printers, and Digital Senders allow remote attackers to hijack the intranet connectivity of arbitrary users for requests that (1) print documents via unknown vectors, (2) modify the network configuration via a NetIPChange request to hp/device/config_result_YesNo.html/config, or (3) change the password via the Password and ConfirmPassword parameters to hp/device/set_config_password.html/config.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2019
The CVE-2009-0940 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the HP Embedded Web Server component of several HP printing devices including LaserJet printers, Edgeline printers, and Digital Senders. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication and validation mechanisms in the web server's handling of requests, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the functionality of these networked devices without proper authorization. The flaw exists specifically within the embedded web interface that allows administrative control over printer operations and network settings, making it a significant concern for enterprise environments where these devices are commonly deployed.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability manifests through three distinct attack vectors that exploit the lack of anti-CSRF protections in the affected HP devices. The first vector enables attackers to print arbitrary documents through unspecified methods, potentially allowing for unauthorized printing of sensitive materials or denial-of-service conditions. The second vector targets network configuration modifications via the NetIPChange request to the hp/device/config_result_YesNo.html/config endpoint, which could allow attackers to alter network parameters and potentially redirect printer communications to malicious servers. The third vector specifically targets authentication mechanisms by enabling password changes through the Password and ConfirmPassword parameters at the hp/device/set_config_password.html/config endpoint, fundamentally compromising device access controls. These vulnerabilities collectively demonstrate a complete lack of CSRF token validation and session management within the embedded web server implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating potential for significant disruption and security breaches within enterprise environments. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to perform unauthorized printing operations that might expose confidential documents, alter network configurations to redirect traffic through malicious intermediaries, or completely compromise device access through password changes. The intranet hijacking capability means that attacks could be executed through social engineering or compromised user sessions, making detection difficult and potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to networked printer infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on HP printers for sensitive document handling and networked printing operations, where unauthorized access could lead to data leakage or network compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate printer devices from critical systems, deployment of network access controls to restrict access to printer management interfaces, and regular firmware updates to address known vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol communication and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Device administrators should also consider implementing additional authentication mechanisms beyond the default web interface, disable unnecessary network services, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized configuration changes or printing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of networked printing infrastructure are essential to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the enterprise environment.