CVE-2010-4267 in Linux Imaging And Printing Project
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the hpmud_get_pml function in io/hpmud/pml.c in Hewlett-Packard Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) 1.6.7, 3.9.8, 3.10.9, and probably other versions allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted SNMP response with a large length value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4267 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the Hewlett-Packard Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) software suite. This issue specifically affects the hpmud_get_pml function located in the io/hpmud/pml.c source file, which is responsible for processing SNMP responses during printer communication. The vulnerability manifests when the software processes malformed SNMP packets containing excessively large length values, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. This flaw exists across multiple versions of HPLIP including 1.6.7, 3.9.8, and 3.10.9, indicating a widespread exposure that could affect numerous printer management systems. The buffer overflow vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the SNMP response parsing logic, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through network-based attacks without requiring local system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper memory management within the SNMP communication handler. When the hpmud_get_pml function receives a crafted SNMP response, it fails to properly validate the length field of the incoming data packet before attempting to copy this data into a fixed-size stack buffer. This allows an attacker to supply a length value that exceeds the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption that can overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical stack data. The flaw directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently exploited in various software systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the buffer overflow from outside the local network, making it particularly dangerous for networked printer environments where HPLIP is deployed.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4267 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe security concern for enterprise environments. A successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the HPLIP service process. This capability creates significant risk for organizations relying on networked printing infrastructure, as compromised print servers could serve as entry points for broader network attacks. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as attackers could leverage the compromised system to establish persistent access or escalate their privileges. Organizations with HPLIP installations across their network infrastructure face substantial risk, particularly in environments where printer management systems are accessible from untrusted networks or where administrative privileges are not properly segmented.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected HPLIP versions, as well as network-level protections to prevent unauthorized SNMP traffic from reaching affected systems. System administrators should implement network segmentation to isolate printer management services from general network traffic, and consider disabling SNMP functionality if it is not required for operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper bounds checking in network-facing applications, which should be enforced through secure coding practices aligned with industry standards such as the CERT C Secure Coding Standard. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous SNMP traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, and maintain updated vulnerability assessments to identify other potential buffer overflow vulnerabilities within their printer management infrastructure. Regular security audits of third-party software components and networked devices should be conducted to ensure comprehensive protection against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities that could be exploited through similar attack vectors.