CVE-2014-2707 in cups-filters
Summary
by MITRE
cups-browsed in cups-filters 1.0.41 before 1.0.51 allows remote IPP printers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the (1) model or (2) PDL, related to "System V interface scripts generated for queues."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2707 affects the cups-browsed component within the cups-filters package version 1.0.41 and earlier, presenting a critical remote command execution risk. This flaw exists in the handling of IPP printer information where the system processes printer model and PDL (Page Description Language) attributes from remote IPP printers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of these printer attributes, which are processed through System V interface scripts that are automatically generated for printer queues. When a remote IPP printer provides maliciously crafted model or PDL information containing shell metacharacters, the cups-browsed service fails to properly escape or filter these inputs before incorporating them into system commands.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of IPP printer attributes during the automatic queue creation process. When cups-browsed encounters a remote IPP printer, it retrieves printer information including model and PDL specifications and subsequently generates System V interface scripts to manage these printer queues. These scripts contain hardcoded commands that reference the printer attributes directly without proper sanitization, creating a classic command injection vulnerability. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-78 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Attackers can leverage this weakness by setting up a malicious IPP printer that responds to CUPS discovery requests with specially crafted model or PDL strings containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on systems running affected versions of cups-filters. This enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the printer management system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects any system that uses cups-browsed for automatic printer discovery and queue management, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automatic printer discovery is enabled. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker does not need physical access to the system, and can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the network. Additionally, since the vulnerability affects the automatic queue generation process, it can be triggered without user interaction, making it particularly stealthy and difficult to detect. The compromised system could be used for further attacks, data exfiltration, or as a pivot point for accessing other network resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2707 primarily involve updating to cups-filters version 1.0.51 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit the exposure of systems running cups-browsed to untrusted networks, and disable automatic printer discovery features when not required. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual printer queue creation activities and implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider disabling the cups-browsed service entirely if automatic printer discovery is not essential for their operations, as this removes the attack surface entirely. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potentially affected systems within the network infrastructure, particularly those running older versions of CUPS or related printing components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and sanitization in system components that interact with external data sources, particularly those that generate system commands based on user-provided information.