CVE-2019-6323 in Color LaserJet Pro M280-M281 Multifunction Printer
Summary
by MITRE
HP Color LaserJet Pro M280-M281 Multifunction Printer series (before v. 20190419), HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28-M31 Printer series (before v. 20190426) may have an embedded web server potentially vulnerable to reflected XSS in wireless configuration page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-6323 affects HP Color LaserJet Pro M280-M281 multifunction printer series and HP LaserJet Pro MFP M28-M31 printer series, specifically those operating with firmware versions prior to 20190419 and 20190426 respectively. These devices incorporate an embedded web server that serves wireless configuration pages to users, creating a potential attack surface that adversaries could exploit. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web server implementation, allowing maliciously crafted web requests to be reflected back to users without proper sanitization. This flaw exists within the wireless configuration interface that administrators and users access to manage network settings, authentication parameters, and wireless connectivity options. The affected printers typically operate in enterprise environments where network administrators configure wireless access points and manage device connectivity through web-based interfaces, making these devices attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs when the web server processes user-supplied input through URL parameters or form fields within the wireless configuration pages. When the server receives a request containing malicious script code, it fails to properly encode or sanitize this input before returning it to the user's browser in the response. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious URL containing script code that, when visited by an authenticated user or administrator, gets executed within the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically impacts the wireless configuration interface, which handles sensitive parameters such as wireless network names, security settings, and authentication credentials. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject malicious scripts that could persistently compromise the device or the network. The flaw is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, which represents one of the most common and dangerous web application vulnerabilities. The reflected nature of the attack means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but is instead reflected back to the user in the response, making exploitation more straightforward and requiring less sophisticated attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web application security concerns and represents a significant risk to enterprise network security infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to printer configuration settings, potentially allowing them to modify wireless network parameters, change authentication credentials, or redirect network traffic through compromised devices. In enterprise environments, these printers often serve as access points for network connectivity and may be configured with elevated privileges or access to sensitive network segments. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access points within networks, potentially using compromised printers as stepping stones for further lateral movement. Additionally, the reflected XSS could be combined with other attacks to create more sophisticated exploitation chains, such as credential theft or man-in-the-middle attacks against network traffic passing through these devices. The vulnerability affects devices that are typically deployed in office environments where network administrators have limited physical access to manage configurations, making remote exploitation more feasible. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for credential access through social engineering techniques that could leverage the XSS to capture authentication tokens or session information.
Organizations should immediately implement firmware updates to address this vulnerability, ensuring that all affected HP printer models are upgraded to versions released after the specified dates of April 19, 2019, and April 26, 2019 respectively. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit direct network access to these devices, particularly restricting administrative access to trusted network segments. Regular security assessments should include inventory tracking of all network-connected devices, including printers, to identify potentially vulnerable systems. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block reflected XSS patterns, monitoring network traffic for suspicious requests containing malicious script payloads, and conducting regular security awareness training for administrators who manage these devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of securing embedded web servers in networked devices, as these systems often operate with minimal security controls and are frequently overlooked in traditional security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control policies that restrict which devices can communicate with printer management interfaces and establish procedures for regular firmware updates and security patch management across all networked printing infrastructure.