CVE-2019-13200 in ECOSYS M5526cdw
Summary
by MITRE
The web application of several Kyocera printers (such as the ECOSYS M5526cdw 2R7_2000.001.701) was affected by Reflected XSS. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to session hijacking of the administrator in the web application or the execution of unwanted actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13200 represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the web interface of multiple Kyocera printer models including the ECOSYS M5526cdw. This security weakness resides in the printer's web application layer, which serves as the primary interface for administrative configuration and monitoring tasks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's parameter processing functions, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft specially malformed requests that contain malicious script payloads within URL parameters or form fields. When the vulnerable web application processes these inputs without proper sanitization and subsequently reflects them back to the user's browser, the embedded scripts execute in the context of the victim's session. This reflected XSS condition specifically affects the administrative web interface of the printer, where authentication cookies and session tokens are typically managed. The flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, particularly when user-controllable data flows into web responses without adequate sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete administrative session compromise. An attacker who successfully injects malicious scripts can potentially steal administrative session cookies, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the printer's management interface with full administrative privileges. This access enables attackers to modify printer configurations, install malicious firmware, monitor network traffic, or establish persistent access points within the network environment. The vulnerability also permits the execution of unwanted actions such as printing malicious content, altering print queues, or redirecting print jobs to unauthorized destinations, all of which can result in data exposure or operational disruption.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for credential access through web application exploitation. The risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where network printers often serve as entry points for lateral movement and privilege escalation attacks. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying manufacturer patches, implementing web application firewalls, and restricting administrative access to these devices through network segmentation. Additional defensive measures should encompass regular security assessments of printer web interfaces and monitoring for anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the reflected nature of this vulnerability makes it particularly suitable for targeted phishing campaigns and automated exploitation tools.