CVE-2010-5325 in foomatic-filters
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the unhtmlify function in foomatic-rip in foomatic-filters before 4.0.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long job title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5325 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the foomatic-rip component of the foomatic-filters package, specifically affecting versions prior to 4.0.6. This flaw exists within the unhtmlify function which processes job titles submitted to the printing system. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking when handling user-supplied data, creating an exploitable condition that can be remotely triggered by malicious actors. The affected system components include the Common Unix Printing System CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) and various printer driver implementations that rely on foomatic-filters for processing print jobs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the unhtmlify function where a fixed-size buffer is allocated on the heap to store job title information. When a remote attacker submits a job title exceeding the allocated buffer size, the function fails to properly validate the input length before copying data into the fixed-size memory location. This results in memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent heap memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions in heap memory allocations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of a classic stack smashing attack pattern but occurs in heap memory rather than stack memory, making it particularly challenging to detect and exploit consistently.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution in affected systems. When exploited successfully, the buffer overflow can cause the foomatic-rip process to crash or corrupt memory in ways that allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the printing service. This creates a significant security risk for networked printing environments where remote attackers might have access to print servers or where print jobs are submitted over untrusted networks. The vulnerability affects systems running various Linux distributions and Unix-like operating systems that utilize the foomatic-filters package for printer management and job processing. Attackers can leverage this flaw to compromise print servers, potentially gaining access to sensitive documents or using the compromised system as a pivot point for further network attacks, aligning with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5325 should prioritize immediate patching of affected foomatic-filters installations to version 4.0.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to print servers and restrict remote submission of print jobs to trusted sources only. Additional defensive measures include implementing input validation controls at the application level to sanitize job title data before processing, monitoring for unusual print job patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and maintaining updated intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation signatures. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary print server functionality and implementing proper access controls to limit who can submit print jobs to affected systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices in print processing software and demonstrates how seemingly benign input fields can become attack vectors when insufficiently validated. Security monitoring should focus on detecting abnormal memory corruption patterns and process crashes in printing services, as these behaviors often precede successful exploitation attempts.