CVE-2019-9934 in Lexmark
Summary
by MITRE
Various Lexmark products have Incorrect Access Control (issue 1 of 2).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9934 represents a critical access control flaw affecting multiple Lexmark printing devices and multifunctional systems. This issue falls under the broader category of improper access control mechanisms that can allow unauthorized users to gain privileges or access to restricted resources within the affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication and authorization checks that govern how users interact with the device's administrative functions and sensitive operational parameters. According to industry standards such as CWE-284, this weakness specifically relates to inadequate permissions management where subjects may perform actions they should not be authorized to execute. The affected Lexmark products span across various models and device types, indicating a systemic flaw rather than an isolated incident that requires comprehensive remediation across the entire product line.
The technical implementation of this access control flaw manifests through the device's failure to properly validate user credentials and authorization levels before granting access to administrative functions. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass normal security controls and gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to modify device configurations, access confidential data stored on the device, or even execute arbitrary code on the affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because printing devices often serve as entry points for network infiltration, especially in enterprise environments where these devices may have direct access to internal networks and sensitive information systems. From an operational perspective, this flaw creates a significant risk of unauthorized access to print job data, device configuration settings, and potentially network credentials stored within the device's memory. The attack surface is further expanded due to the typical network connectivity of these devices, which often remain accessible from multiple network segments without proper network segmentation controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9934 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and network infiltration opportunities. Organizations utilizing affected Lexmark devices may find their print environments compromised, leading to unauthorized access to confidential documents, potential exfiltration of sensitive information, and disruption of legitimate printing operations. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product lines suggests that organizations may need to conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure. Security professionals should consider this weakness in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly within the privilege escalation and persistence tactics where attackers can leverage such access control flaws to establish long-term access to network resources. The flaw may also contribute to broader security incidents when combined with other vulnerabilities, as compromised print devices can serve as stepping stones for lateral movement within corporate networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Lexmark to address the access control implementation issues. Organizations must also implement network segmentation to isolate printing devices from critical network segments and apply network access controls to limit communication between devices and sensitive systems. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing strong authentication mechanisms for administrative access, and conducting regular security assessments of print environments to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also involve monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities related to print device access and establishing incident response procedures specifically tailored to address compromised print environments. Given the nature of this vulnerability, security teams should also consider implementing device management solutions that can provide centralized control over print device configurations and access permissions. Organizations should also review their existing security policies to ensure that print device management is included in their overall security framework and that appropriate access controls are maintained for all network-connected devices.