CVE-2023-28243 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2023
Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2023
The CVE-2023-28243 vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Microsoft's PostScript and PCL6 class printer drivers, affecting Windows operating systems from version 7 through Windows 11. This vulnerability resides in the printer driver components that handle print job processing and communication between the operating system and printer devices, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code on targeted systems. The flaw specifically impacts the handling of print data streams and driver configuration parameters that process print jobs sent to networked or locally connected printers.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the printer driver's parsing logic for PostScript and PCL6 formatted print commands. When a malicious print job is submitted to a vulnerable printer driver, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming data streams, allowing attackers to craft specially crafted print requests that can trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. This improper validation creates a path for attackers to manipulate memory structures within the printer driver process, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the print spooler service. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities in memory management operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-28243 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems through the print spooler service. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, deploy additional malware payloads, or establish command and control channels without requiring direct user interaction or elevated privileges beyond what is normally required for printer access. The print spooler service typically runs with high privileges on Windows systems, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous as it can provide attackers with elevated system access that persists across reboots. This vulnerability can be exploited in both targeted attacks against specific organizations and mass exploitation campaigns, particularly when attackers identify systems with exposed printer services or misconfigured network printer access.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the print spooler service on systems not requiring printer functionality, applying Microsoft's security patches as soon as available, and implementing network segmentation controls to restrict access to printer services. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary printer protocols and implementing strict access controls on printer shares and network printer services. The vulnerability's exploitation characteristics align with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Network monitoring should focus on unusual print job submissions, particularly those containing malformed PostScript or PCL6 data streams, as these may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security assessments of printer configurations and driver versions should be conducted to identify and remediate vulnerable systems before attackers can leverage this weakness for unauthorized access or data exfiltration operations.