CVE-2019-18628 in AltaLink B8045
Summary
by MITRE • 03/04/2021
Xerox AltaLink B8045/B8055/B8065/B8075/B8090 and C8030/C8035/C8045/C8055/C8070 multifunction printers with software releases before 101.00x.099.28200 allow a user with administrative privileges to turn off data encryption on the device, thus leaving it open to potential cryptographic information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18628 affects a range of Xerox multifunction printers including the AltaLink B8045/B8055/B8065/B8075/B8090 and C8030/C8035/C8045/C8055/C8070 models. This security flaw resides in the device's firmware and software implementations, specifically within the cryptographic configuration management system that governs data encryption settings. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the printer's security architecture as it allows an attacker with administrative access to disable essential encryption mechanisms that protect sensitive data transmission and storage. The affected software versions span from the initial release through the 101.00x.099.28200 firmware revision, indicating a prolonged period during which this vulnerability remained unaddressed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the printer's administrative interface where a user with appropriate privileges can modify security settings to disable data encryption protocols. This flaw essentially provides an attacker with the capability to downgrade the security posture of the device from encrypted to unencrypted communication channels, which violates fundamental security principles of data protection. The vulnerability specifically targets the device's ability to enforce cryptographic security measures, allowing for potential information disclosure attacks where sensitive data such as print jobs, user credentials, or network configurations could be intercepted and read by unauthorized parties. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor access control implementation within the device's security framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential broader security compromise of the network environment. When encryption is disabled on these multifunction printers, it creates an attack surface that can be leveraged by threat actors to intercept sensitive documents, capture network traffic, or potentially escalate privileges within the network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where these devices often serve as critical components in document management and printing workflows, handling confidential corporate information, personal data, and potentially sensitive government communications. The ability to disable encryption without proper authorization mechanisms represents a significant weakness in the device's security architecture and could lead to compliance violations under data protection regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, or pci dss standards.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching affected devices to the latest firmware versions that address this vulnerability, establishing strict access controls to prevent unauthorized administrative access, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all multifunction printer deployments. The remediation process should involve verifying that encryption settings cannot be modified without proper authorization and implementing network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual configuration changes or unauthorized access attempts to these devices. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses, and represents a potential pathway for attackers to exploit using techniques described in the attack pattern category for privilege escalation and information disclosure within the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other networked devices and ensure comprehensive security posture maintenance across all enterprise assets.