CVE-2010-3920 in Lp-s9000 Driver 4.1.11
Summary
by MITRE
The Seiko Epson printer driver installers for LP-S9000 before 4.1.11 and LP-S7100 before 4.1.7, or as downloaded from the vendor between May 2010 and 20101125, set weak permissions for the "C:\Program Files" folder, which might allow local users to bypass intended access restrictions and create or modify arbitrary files and directories.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3920 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in Seiko Epson printer driver installers for specific LP-S9000 and LP-S7100 printer models. This issue stems from the installer's improper handling of file system permissions during the installation process, creating a persistent security weakness that affects systems running Windows operating environments. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 4.1.11 for LP-S9000 models and 4.1.7 for LP-S7100 models, with affected installations occurring within a specific timeframe from May 2010 through November 2010, making it a temporal security concern that required immediate attention from system administrators and security teams.
The technical flaw manifests when the Epson printer driver installer executes its installation routine, particularly during the phase where it configures the "C:\Program Files" directory structure. During this process, the installer fails to properly establish secure file permissions for the target directory, leaving the folder with overly permissive access controls. This misconfiguration allows local users with standard user privileges to manipulate the installed printer driver components and potentially modify system files that should normally be restricted to administrative access. The weak permissions essentially create a backdoor mechanism that bypasses the intended access controls and privilege separation mechanisms inherent in Windows operating systems, enabling unauthorized modifications to critical system components.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations deploying these Epson printer drivers. Local attackers who gain access to a system with the vulnerable printer driver installed can exploit this weakness to elevate their privileges and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability enables attackers to create or modify arbitrary files and directories within the program files structure, potentially allowing them to install malicious software, modify existing drivers, or establish persistent access mechanisms. This type of local privilege escalation vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without requiring network access or advanced attack techniques, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which describes Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, and demonstrates how installer configurations can create persistent security weaknesses in system environments. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under the T1068 category, specifically leveraging weaknesses in software installation processes to gain elevated system access. Organizations should implement immediate remediation strategies including updating to the patched versions of the printer drivers, reviewing and correcting file permissions on existing installations, and conducting security audits to identify any potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to critical system directories to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper permission management during software installation processes and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of installer components before deployment in production environments.