CVE-2019-13196 in ECOSYS M5526cdw
Summary
by MITRE
Some Kyocera printers (such as the ECOSYS M5526cdw 2R7_2000.001.701) were affected by a buffer overflow vulnerability in the arg4 and arg9 parameters of several functionalities of the web application that would allow an authenticated attacker to perform a Denial of Service attack, crashing the device, or potentially execute arbitrary code on the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2019-13196 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw discovered in Kyocera printer models including the ECOSYS M5526cdw with firmware version 2R7_2000.001.701. This vulnerability resides within the web application interface of these multifunction devices, specifically affecting the arg4 and arg9 parameters used across multiple functionalities. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the printer's embedded web server implementation, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors with legitimate authentication credentials. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in networked printing environments where devices are often accessible from multiple network segments and may be managed remotely by various users with different privilege levels.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability places it firmly within the scope of CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The exploitation occurs when authenticated users submit specially crafted input parameters containing excessive data to the arg4 and arg9 fields, causing the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This memory corruption can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, system instability, and in some cases, the potential for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization practices where the web application fails to properly validate the length and content of user-supplied parameters before processing them within fixed-size memory buffers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Kyocera printers in their network infrastructure. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first obtain valid user credentials, which could be achieved through various social engineering techniques, credential theft, or compromised accounts. Once authenticated, an attacker can leverage this vulnerability to either crash the printer device, causing denial of service that disrupts document printing operations, or potentially execute malicious code that could provide persistent access to the device. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as compromised printers could serve as entry points for broader network attacks, particularly in environments where printers are configured with network access or have access to sensitive documents and systems.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that many organizations maintain Kyocera printers as part of their standard office infrastructure without adequate security monitoring or patch management processes. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072, which covers software deployment methods, as attackers could potentially use compromised printers to establish persistent access points or deploy additional malicious payloads. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from Kyocera, network segmentation to limit access to printer management interfaces, and enhanced monitoring of printer network traffic for unusual patterns. Additionally, implementing strict access controls and privilege separation for printer management functions can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of supply chain security and the need for regular vulnerability assessments of networked devices, particularly those with web interfaces that may not receive regular security updates from vendors.