CVE-2019-13205 in ECOSYS M5526cdw
Summary
by MITRE
All configuration parameters of certain Kyocera printers (such as the ECOSYS M5526cdw 2R7_2000.001.701) were accessible by unauthenticated users. This information was only presented in the menus when authenticated, and the pages that loaded this information were also protected. However, all files that contained the configuration parameters were accessible. These files contained sensitive information, such as users, community strings, and other passwords configured in the printer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw in Kyocera printer firmware that exposes sensitive configuration data to unauthenticated attackers. The issue affects specific Kyocera printer models including the ECOSYS M5526cdw with firmware version 2R7_2000.001.701 and similar devices. The vulnerability stems from improper file access controls where configuration parameter files remain accessible without authentication despite the graphical user interface protecting menu access through authentication mechanisms. This creates a fundamental security gap where sensitive information stored in printer configuration files becomes publicly accessible to anyone with network access to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a misconfiguration in the printer's web server or file system access controls. While the user interface menus require authentication to access configuration information, the underlying files containing these parameters are not properly protected. This creates a scenario where attackers can directly access configuration files through HTTP requests or other network protocols without needing valid credentials. The exposed data includes usernames, community strings, and passwords configured within the printer's network settings, representing a significant compromise of the device's security posture. According to CWE-284, this vulnerability maps to improper access control where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions on sensitive resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with credentials and configuration data that can be used for further attacks within the network. Attackers can leverage the exposed community strings to perform SNMP queries against the device, potentially gaining additional information about the printer's configuration or even using these credentials for network enumeration. The presence of user accounts and passwords in the exposed configuration data creates opportunities for credential reuse attacks, where attackers can attempt to use these credentials to access other systems within the network. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which describes access to remote systems through the use of credentials, and T1087, which covers account discovery through the enumeration of system information.
Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate printer devices from critical network segments and apply network access controls to restrict access to printer management interfaces. The most effective mitigation involves updating the printer firmware to versions that properly secure configuration files and implement proper access controls for all sensitive data. Network administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual access patterns to printer configuration files and establish regular security audits of networked devices. Additionally, organizations should disable unnecessary services and protocols on printers, particularly SNMP and HTTP interfaces that may expose additional attack vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security testing that examines not just user-facing interfaces but also underlying system files and data storage mechanisms.