CVE-2011-0279 in Multifunction Peripheral Digital Sending Software
Summary
by MITRE
HP Multifunction Peripheral (MFP) Digital Sending Software (DSS) 4.91.00 does not properly configure authentication settings of managed devices within device templates, which allows attackers to access these devices via actions that were intended to require authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0279 affects HP Multifunction Peripheral Digital Sending Software version 4.91.00, representing a critical configuration flaw that undermines the security posture of managed devices within enterprise printing environments. This issue stems from improper authentication configuration within device templates, creating a significant security gap that enables unauthorized access to networked multifunction peripherals. The flaw exists in the software's handling of device template configurations, where authentication settings are not correctly applied or enforced during device management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the software's template processing mechanism, which fails to properly validate or enforce authentication requirements when managing device configurations. When administrators create or modify device templates within the DSS software, the authentication parameters that should be applied to managed devices are either ignored, improperly configured, or not enforced at all. This misconfiguration allows attackers to perform administrative actions on managed devices without proper authentication credentials, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to device management functions, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized device manipulation.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to enterprise environments that rely on HP MFP devices for document management and digital sending operations. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to managed devices, potentially leading to data exfiltration, device configuration changes, or the ability to intercept sensitive documents during transmission. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised devices could serve as entry points for further network infiltration or be used to launch attacks against other systems within the enterprise network. Organizations utilizing this software version face potential exposure to both internal and external threats that can exploit the misconfigured authentication settings to compromise their printing infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with privilege escalation flaws in network management software. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement through compromised network devices. The security implications extend to potential data loss, unauthorized device configuration changes, and the possibility of establishing persistent access points within the network infrastructure. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader network security assessments, particularly focusing on device management software and its impact on overall network security posture.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate software updates to the latest available versions of HP Digital Sending Software, which contain the necessary patches to address the authentication configuration flaws. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of managed devices to unauthorized network segments. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive audits of device template configurations to identify and correct any improperly configured authentication settings. Regular security assessments of device management software and proactive monitoring for unauthorized device access attempts will help detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network access controls and device authentication mechanisms beyond the software's native capabilities can provide additional layers of protection against unauthorized access attempts.