CVE-2023-35296 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2023
Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2023
This vulnerability resides in Microsoft's PostScript and PCL6 class printer drivers where improper handling of certain printer commands leads to information disclosure through memory contents that should remain protected. The flaw occurs when the printer driver processes specific print jobs containing crafted payloads that trigger buffer overflows or improper memory management during command parsing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially constructed print requests that cause the driver to reveal sensitive data from memory locations including system pointers, credential information, or other confidential data structures. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory boundary checking within the printer driver codebase, particularly affecting systems running Windows operating systems with these specific printer drivers installed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the printer driver's failure to properly sanitize incoming print data before processing it through internal parsing functions. When a malicious print job is submitted containing oversized or malformed command sequences, the driver's memory management routines do not adequately protect against information leakage. This creates a scenario where attackers can potentially extract memory contents that contain sensitive information such as stack pointers, heap addresses, or other system data that could be used for further exploitation attempts. The flaw operates at the application layer within the print spooler service context, making it accessible through standard printer communication protocols and network printing services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation and system compromise. While the primary effect is data exposure, the leaked memory contents could provide attackers with critical information needed for exploitation of other vulnerabilities or for bypassing security controls. The vulnerability affects organizations using Microsoft Windows systems with PostScript or PCL6 printer drivers, particularly those with networked printing environments where unauthorized access to print queues could occur. Remote exploitation is possible through network-based printing services, making this a significant concern for enterprise environments with centralized print management systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application from Microsoft as the primary defense mechanism, alongside network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of vulnerable printer services. Organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual print job patterns or malformed requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. Disabling unnecessary printing services and restricting printer driver installations to authorized administrators helps reduce attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 Information Exposure and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access through information disclosure. Regular security assessments of print environments and proper configuration management of printer drivers are essential for maintaining defense in depth. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious print-related traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.