CVE-2019-13168 in Phaser 3320
Summary
by MITRE
Some Xerox printers (such as the Phaser 3320 V53.006.16.000) were affected by a buffer overflow vulnerability in the attributes parser of the IPP service. This would allow an unauthenticated attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) and potentially execute arbitrary code on the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13168 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) service of certain Xerox printer models including the Phaser 3320 with firmware version V53.006.16.000. This issue resides in the attributes parser component of the IPP service which handles incoming print job requests and device configuration data. The buffer overflow occurs when the printer processes malformed IPP attribute data, specifically during the parsing of attribute names and values. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the printer's embedded software architecture, allowing attackers to manipulate memory allocation during attribute processing. According to CWE-121, this corresponds to a stack-based buffer overflow condition where insufficient bounds checking permits writing beyond allocated buffer boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted IPP requests containing oversized or malformed attribute data to the printer's IPP service port. When the printer attempts to parse these malicious attributes, the buffer overflow can lead to arbitrary code execution within the printer's operating environment, effectively compromising the device's integrity and security posture. This represents a significant risk to networked printing environments where printers are accessible from untrusted networks or internal segments without proper network segmentation. The vulnerability affects the printer's ability to process legitimate print jobs while simultaneously creating an attack surface for malicious actors to gain persistent access to the device. The DoS aspect of this vulnerability can be leveraged to disrupt business operations and create availability issues for legitimate users who depend on the printing infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13168 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Xerox to address the buffer overflow conditions in the IPP service parser. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to the IPP service ports (typically port 631) from untrusted networks and limit access to only authorized devices and users within the organization. The principle of least privilege should be applied to printer access controls, ensuring that only necessary systems can communicate with the printer's IPP service. Additionally, network segmentation practices should isolate printing infrastructure from critical business systems to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. Monitoring and logging of IPP service communications should be enhanced to detect anomalous attribute parsing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, indicating that attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access or execute malicious payloads within the printer's operational environment. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious IPP traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability.