CVE-2019-14304 in SP C250DN
Summary
by MITRE
Ricoh SP C250DN 1.06 devices allow CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14304 affects Ricoh SP C250DN multifunction printers running firmware version 1.06 and potentially other versions within the same product line. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the device's ability to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks, which can have severe implications for network security and device management. The affected devices operate within corporate environments where multifunction printers often serve as entry points for various cyber threats due to their network accessibility and administrative interfaces.
Cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities occur when a malicious actor can trick an authenticated user into executing unintended actions on a web application or device without their knowledge or consent. In the context of the Ricoh SP C250DN, this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the device's configuration and operational parameters through crafted web requests that appear legitimate to the device's authentication system. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of the origin of HTTP requests, enabling attackers to perform administrative functions such as changing network settings, modifying user accounts, or accessing restricted device features through social engineering or compromised user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. When an attacker successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability, they can potentially gain unauthorized administrative control over the printer, which serves as a critical component in many corporate environments. The device's web interface provides access to sensitive configuration parameters that could be leveraged to redirect network traffic, modify security settings, or even serve as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where network printers are not properly segmented or isolated from critical systems, as the compromised device could provide attackers with additional attack surface.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications and devices. The flaw demonstrates the importance of implementing proper request validation mechanisms and origin checking in network-connected devices that expose web-based administrative interfaces. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical devices and ensure that administrative interfaces are not directly accessible from untrusted networks. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular firmware updates and security assessments of networked devices, as the affected firmware version 1.06 likely contains insufficient security controls to prevent unauthorized modifications.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates from Ricoh to address the CSRF vulnerability, implementation of network access controls to restrict access to the device's administrative interface, and deployment of network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous administrative activities. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary web services and implementing multi-factor authentication where possible to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates that even seemingly simple network devices can pose significant security risks when they lack proper authentication and authorization controls, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security assessments of all network-connected equipment.