CVE-2009-0941 in Laserjet 4240
Summary
by MITRE
The HP Embedded Web Server (EWS) on HP LaserJet Printers, Edgeline Printers, and Digital Senders has no management password by default, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0941 represents a critical security flaw in HP's Embedded Web Server implementation across multiple printer and multifunction device models. This issue stems from the default configuration where the embedded web server lacks any management password authentication, creating an inherent security weakness that directly exposes administrative interfaces to unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects a broad range of HP LaserJet printers, Edgeline printers, and digital senders, indicating a widespread implementation flaw that impacts numerous enterprise and organizational environments where these devices are deployed.
The technical nature of this flaw can be categorized under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials or the absence of authentication mechanisms in security-critical components. The embedded web server in question provides administrative access through a web-based interface that allows configuration changes, firmware updates, and system monitoring capabilities. Without proper authentication, remote attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unrestricted access to the device's management functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability operates at the network level, requiring only basic network connectivity to the affected devices to exploit the missing authentication mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating significant risks for enterprise environments where print servers and multifunction devices serve as critical components of business infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this weakness to modify printer configurations, install malicious firmware, monitor print jobs, or even use the compromised devices as entry points for broader network attacks. The default nature of this vulnerability means that organizations are exposed immediately upon deployment without any additional configuration steps to secure the embedded web server. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where security awareness is low or where devices are deployed in unsecured locations such as public areas or shared workspaces.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which involves application layer protocol usage for command and control communications, and T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation. The lack of authentication creates a direct path for attackers to escalate privileges from basic network access to full administrative control over the affected devices. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the embedded web server when not required, implementing network segmentation to isolate these devices, and applying firmware updates that address the authentication gap. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure default configurations as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 security controls, where systems should not be deployed with insecure default settings that could be exploited by threat actors. Regular security assessments and network monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to these devices, as the vulnerability can remain undetected for extended periods without proper monitoring procedures in place.