CVE-2018-14908 in Syncthru Web Service
Summary
by MITRE
Samsung Syncthru Web Service V4.05.61 is vulnerable to CSRF on every request, as demonstrated by sws.application/printinformation/printReportSetupView.sws for a "Print emails sent" action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14908 affects Samsung Syncthru Web Service version 4.05.61 and represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that undermines the security posture of networked printing environments. This vulnerability exists within the web service interface that manages printer operations and configurations, specifically targeting the print reporting functionality that allows administrators to view print job details and email notifications. The flaw enables attackers to execute unauthorized actions against the affected printer systems without user consent or knowledge, exploiting the absence of proper anti-CSRF protections in the web service implementation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects every request made through the service, indicating a fundamental architectural weakness rather than an isolated issue.
The technical exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the sws.application/printinformation/printReportSetupView.sws endpoint, which is designed to handle print report setup configurations and email notification settings. When an attacker crafts a malicious request that targets this endpoint with the specific "Print emails sent" action, they can potentially alter print job notification preferences or trigger unauthorized print operations. The vulnerability stems from the lack of anti-CSRF tokens or other validation mechanisms that would normally verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate users. This absence of request validation allows attackers to leverage the printer's web service to perform unauthorized operations, particularly those related to email notifications and print job reporting configurations that could reveal sensitive information about network usage patterns and document flows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized actions to potentially compromise sensitive network information and disrupt printing operations within enterprise environments. Attackers could exploit this weakness to modify email notification settings for print jobs, potentially enabling them to receive confidential documents or to prevent legitimate users from receiving important print job confirmations. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Samsung printers with Syncthru Web Service functionality, particularly those with networked printing solutions where unauthorized access could lead to data leakage, privacy violations, or operational disruptions. The broad scope of affected requests means that multiple printer management functions could be compromised, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with extensive printing infrastructures. Security researchers have classified this as a high-risk issue due to its potential for remote exploitation and the critical nature of print job management functions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate printer services from general network traffic, deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious CSRF requests, and implementation of proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in various security frameworks. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1071.004 technique related to application layer protocol: DNS, and potentially to T1566 for initial access through web application attacks. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potential CSRF vulnerabilities in their printer management systems and ensure that all networked devices implement proper authentication and authorization mechanisms. The recommended remediation includes updating to patched versions of Samsung Syncthru Web Service, implementing proper request validation controls, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect anomalous print job configurations or notification settings changes that could indicate exploitation attempts.