CVE-2017-5671 in Intermec
Summary
by MITRE
Honeywell Intermec PM23, PM42, PM43, PC23, PC43, PD43, and PC42 industrial printers before 10.11.013310 and 10.12.x before 10.12.013309 have /usr/bin/lua installed setuid to the itadmin account, which allows local users to conduct a BusyBox jailbreak attack and obtain root privileges by overwriting the /etc/shadow file.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5671 affects a range of industrial printers manufactured by Honeywell Intermec, specifically models including PM23, PM42, PM43, PC23, PC43, PD43, and PC42. These devices operate in critical industrial environments where printer security is paramount for maintaining operational integrity and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive manufacturing processes. The affected systems run firmware versions prior to 10.11.013310 and 10.12.x versions before 10.12.013309, representing a significant security gap that exposes these industrial devices to serious privilege escalation attacks.
The core technical flaw resides in the improper privilege management of the /usr/bin/lua binary which is installed with setuid permissions to the itadmin account. This configuration creates a dangerous escalation path because the setuid mechanism allows the lua interpreter to execute with elevated privileges beyond those of the regular user. When combined with the BusyBox jailbreak attack vector, this vulnerability enables local attackers to exploit the system's privilege model and gain root access. The attack specifically targets the ability to overwrite the /etc/shadow file, which contains critical password hashes and user authentication information that controls system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally compromises the security model of industrial printer systems. In industrial environments, these printers often serve as critical components in manufacturing processes, supply chain management, and operational technology networks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete control over the printer's operating system, potentially disrupting production workflows, accessing confidential manufacturing data, or using the compromised device as a foothold for lateral movement within the industrial network. This represents a significant risk to operational technology security and can lead to production downtime, data breaches, or even physical safety concerns in critical manufacturing environments.
The vulnerability demonstrates a classic improper privilege escalation issue that aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privileges assigned to a resource. The attack pattern follows established techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation tactics, specifically leveraging setuid binaries as a method for gaining elevated system access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to the patched versions, removal of unnecessary setuid binaries, and implementation of network segmentation to limit lateral movement. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting unauthorized modifications to system files like /etc/shadow and unusual execution patterns of setuid binaries. The incident highlights the importance of secure configuration management in industrial environments and underscores the need for regular security assessments of operational technology systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising critical infrastructure.