CVE-2015-5853 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
AirScan in Apple OS X before 10.11 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain eSCL packet payload data via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5853 affects Apple's AirScan implementation within OS X versions prior to 10.11, representing a significant security weakness in the printing protocol stack. This flaw specifically targets the eSCL (Ethernet Simple Collaborative Lifecycle) protocol which is used for network printing communications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient cryptographic protection mechanisms during the transmission of print job data, creating an exploitable gap in the security architecture of Apple's printing infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper encryption and authentication mechanisms within the AirScan implementation. Attackers capable of positioning themselves between the client device and the print server can intercept and manipulate eSCL packet payloads during transmission. This man-in-the-middle attack vector operates by exploiting weaknesses in the protocol's handling of secure communications, allowing unauthorized parties to access sensitive print data including document content, metadata, and potentially user credentials or system information. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack scenarios could exploit this weakness, including network interception, rogue access point deployment, or DNS spoofing techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it compromises the confidentiality and integrity of print jobs transmitted over networked printing systems. Organizations relying on Apple's AirScan functionality for document management face potential risks including intellectual property theft, corporate espionage, and unauthorized access to sensitive business documents. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where secure printing is critical, particularly in financial services, healthcare, and government sectors where document confidentiality is paramount. Network administrators and security professionals must consider the implications of this vulnerability when assessing their print infrastructure security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5853 should prioritize immediate system updates to OS X 10.11 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper cryptographic protections for eSCL communications. Organizations should also implement additional network security measures including encrypted network protocols, proper firewall configurations, and network segmentation to limit the attack surface. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual printing activities or unauthorized network access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-310 - Cryptographic Issues and ATT&CK technique T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as it exploits weaknesses in secure communication protocols and can be leveraged for data exfiltration through network-based attacks. The remediation process should include comprehensive security assessments of all networked printing infrastructure to ensure complete protection against similar vulnerabilities in related systems.