CVE-2018-17210 in PrinterOn Central Print Services
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in PrinterOn Central Print Services (CPS) through 4.1.4. The core components that create and launch a print job do not perform complete verification of the session cookie that is supplied to them. As a result, an attacker with guest/pseudo-guest level permissions can bypass the session checks (that would otherwise logout a low-privileged user) by calling the core print job components directly via crafted HTTP GET and POST requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17210 affects PrinterOn Central Print Services version 4.1.4 and earlier, representing a critical session management flaw that undermines the authentication mechanisms of the system. This issue resides in the core print job processing components that handle print job creation and execution. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of session cookies within the application's authentication flow, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to privileged functions. The vulnerability specifically impacts the session verification process that should enforce proper user authorization levels before allowing access to print job operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in the application's access control architecture where session cookies are not thoroughly validated before granting access to core print job functionalities. Attackers with guest or pseudo-guest permissions can circumvent the normal session validation checks by directly invoking the print job components through crafted HTTP requests. This bypass occurs because the system fails to perform complete session cookie verification when processing print job requests, allowing unauthorized users to escalate their privileges without proper authentication. The vulnerability manifests through both GET and POST HTTP methods, providing attackers with multiple attack vectors to exploit the flawed session handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data exposure and system compromise within the print environment. An attacker could leverage this flaw to submit print jobs with elevated privileges, potentially accessing sensitive documents or executing malicious print operations. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor mechanism that allows low-privileged users to bypass normal access controls and perform actions that should be restricted to authenticated administrators or authorized users. This could lead to unauthorized document processing, potential data leakage, and disruption of legitimate print services within the organization's network infrastructure.
Security professionals should address this vulnerability by implementing comprehensive session validation mechanisms that ensure all incoming requests undergo proper authentication verification before accessing core components. The recommended mitigation involves strengthening the session cookie validation process to include complete verification of user credentials and authorization levels before allowing access to print job functionalities. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and access control measures that prevent direct invocation of core components through unauthorized HTTP requests. Additionally, the application should enforce proper session management practices that include secure session cookie handling, proper session timeout mechanisms, and robust authentication checks that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the CWE-384 category for session management vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources, emphasizing the importance of proper access control implementation in print management systems.