CVE-2014-9003 in xPrintServer
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Lantronix xPrintServer allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that modify configuration, as demonstrated by executing arbitrary commands using the c parameter in the rpc action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The CVE-2014-9003 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in Lantronix xPrintServer devices that enables remote attackers to exploit administrative authentication sessions for unauthorized configuration modifications. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, where the attacker can trick authenticated users into executing unintended actions without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically affects the rpc action within the xPrintServer web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the device's configuration settings through carefully crafted requests that leverage existing administrator sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the absence of proper anti-CSRF mechanisms within the xPrintServer's web application framework. When administrators authenticate to the device's web interface, their session credentials remain active and are not properly validated for each request. Attackers can construct malicious web pages or send specially crafted HTTP requests that include the c parameter within the rpc action, effectively allowing them to execute arbitrary commands on the target device. This flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in session management and request validation, where the application fails to verify the origin of requests or implement token-based validation to prevent unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected xPrintServer devices. Once exploited, attackers can modify network configurations, change user credentials, alter print queue settings, and potentially gain persistent access to the network infrastructure. The ability to execute arbitrary commands through the c parameter means that attackers can effectively take full control of the device, potentially using it as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it leverages legitimate administrative sessions to execute malicious operations while maintaining stealth through the use of existing authenticated connections.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper CSRF protection mechanisms such as anti-CSRF tokens that are generated for each user session and validated on every state-changing request. Network administrators should ensure that xPrintServer devices are properly isolated within secure network segments and that administrative access is restricted to trusted networks through firewall rules and VPN configurations. The device firmware should be updated to the latest version provided by Lantronix that includes proper CSRF protection measures, and administrators should regularly monitor device logs for suspicious activities. Additionally, implementing network access controls and disabling unnecessary web administration interfaces can significantly reduce the attack surface, while regular security audits should verify that proper authentication and authorization mechanisms are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other networked devices.