CVE-2019-18203 in MP 501
Summary
by MITRE
On the RICOH MP 501 printer, HTML Injection and Stored XSS vulnerabilities have been discovered in the area of adding addresses via the entryNameIn and KeyDisplay parameter to /web/entry/en/address/adrsSetUserWizard.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2024
The CVE-2019-18203 vulnerability affects RICOH MP 501 multifunction printers and represents a critical security flaw in the web-based administrative interface. This vulnerability exists within the address entry functionality of the printer's web application, specifically in the /web/entry/en/address/adrsSetUserWizard.cgi script. The issue manifests as both HTML injection and stored cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, particularly the entryNameIn and KeyDisplay parameters. When these parameters are processed by the web application, they fail to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows an attacker to inject malicious payloads that are then stored within the printer's address book system and subsequently executed whenever the affected page is accessed. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack because the malicious content persists in the application's database and affects all users who view the compromised data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on RICOH MP 501 printers for document management and communication services. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the printer's address book, potentially compromising user credentials, contact information, and business communications. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the printer's web interface. This vulnerability could enable attackers to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious websites, or extract sensitive data from the printer's internal storage.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to printer administrative interfaces, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads, and applying manufacturer-provided security patches if available. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and follows ATT&CK technique T1212 which covers Exploitation for Credential Access. Additional protective measures should include disabling unnecessary web services, enforcing strong access controls, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other networked devices and ensure comprehensive protection against similar exploitation techniques.