CVE-2021-20679 in DocuCentre-VII
Summary
by MITRE • 03/25/2021
Fuji Xerox multifunction devices and printers (DocuCentre-VII C7773/C6673/C5573/C4473/C3373/C3372/C2273, DocuCentre-VII C7788/C6688/C5588, ApeosPort-VII C7773/C6673/C5573/C4473/C3373/C3372 C2273, ApeosPort-VII C7788/C6688/C5588, ApeosPort C7070/C6570/C5570/C4570/C3570/C3070/C7070G/C6570G/C5570G/C4570G/C3570G/C3070G, ApeosPort-VII C4421/C3321, ApeosPort C3060/C2560/C2060/C3060G/C2560G/C2060G, ApeosPort-VII CP4421, ApeosPort Print C5570, ApeosPort 5570/4570/5570G/4570G, ApeosPort 3560/3060/2560/3560G/3060G/2560G, ApeosPort-VII 5021/ 4021, ApeosPort-VII P5021, DocuPrint CP 555 d/505 d, DocuPrint P505 d, PrimeLink C9065/C9070, DocuPrint CP475AP, and DocuPrint P475AP) allow an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition and abnormal end (ABEND) of the affected products via sending a specially crafted command.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-20679 affects a wide range of Fuji Xerox multifunction devices and printers across multiple product lines including DocuCentre-VII, ApeosPort-VII, ApeosPort, DocuPrint, and PrimeLink series. These devices operate within enterprise environments where reliable document processing is critical for business operations. The flaw resides in the handling of specially crafted commands that can be transmitted to these devices, potentially leading to system instability and complete service disruption.
This vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow or command injection issue that allows an attacker to manipulate the device's command processing mechanism. The affected devices are designed to receive and execute various commands from network clients, but the implementation lacks proper input validation and sanitization. When a maliciously crafted command is received, the system fails to properly handle the malformed input, resulting in either a denial of service condition or an abnormal end state that requires manual intervention to restore normal operation. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level where commands are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise business continuity in enterprise environments. Organizations relying on these devices for document management, printing, scanning, and copying operations face significant risk when affected devices become unavailable. The abnormal end condition requires system administrators to manually restart the affected devices, which can result in production delays and increased operational costs. In high-volume printing environments, this vulnerability could lead to substantial downtime and workflow disruption, particularly during peak business hours when document processing demands are highest.
Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under CWE-121, which describes Buffer Overflow in the Heap, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service. The attack surface is broad due to the numerous affected models, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with diverse device inventories. The vulnerability affects devices that are commonly connected to corporate networks and often accessible from multiple network segments, increasing the potential attack vectors. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to these devices and reduce the attack surface. Additionally, regular firmware updates and patches from Fuji Xerox should be prioritized to address this vulnerability and other related security issues.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in embedded systems and networked devices. Device manufacturers must implement comprehensive security testing including fuzzing and penetration testing to identify such weaknesses before deployment. Organizations should also establish monitoring protocols to detect unusual command patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even seemingly simple device operations can present significant security risks when proper safeguards are not implemented. Network administrators should consider implementing device access controls and limiting command execution capabilities to authorized users only. The affected devices should be prioritized for immediate patching and security hardening to prevent exploitation and maintain operational integrity in enterprise environments.