CVE-2023-40239 in CS310
Summary
by MITRE • 09/01/2023
Certain Lexmark devices (such as CS310) before 2023-08-25 allow XXE attacks, leading to information disclosure. The fixed firmware version is LW80.*.P246, i.e., '*' indicates that the full version specification varies across product model family, but firmware level P246 (or higher) is required to remediate the vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-40239 represents a critical XML External Entity processing flaw affecting certain Lexmark printing devices including the CS310 model and potentially other devices within the Lexmark product family. This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-611, which specifically addresses XML External Entity processing vulnerabilities that can lead to information disclosure and potential remote code execution. The flaw exists in the device's handling of XML data processing, particularly when parsing incoming data from network requests or print jobs that contain external entity references.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to craft malicious XML content that, when processed by the affected Lexmark devices, can cause the device to resolve external entities and potentially disclose sensitive information stored on the device or within the network environment. This occurs because the device's XML parser does not properly validate or restrict external entity references, enabling attackers to leverage this weakness to access internal system information, configuration files, or other sensitive data that should remain protected. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects network-connected printing devices that often have access to corporate networks and may contain sensitive information from print jobs or device configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on Lexmark devices for their printing infrastructure. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to print job data, device configuration information, or even use the device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network environment. The vulnerability affects devices prior to firmware version LW80.*.P246, indicating that the manufacturer has acknowledged this issue and provided a specific firmware update to address the problem. Organizations using affected Lexmark devices face potential exposure to data breaches, compliance violations, and network compromise if they fail to apply the necessary firmware updates.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of affected devices by updating to firmware version LW80.*.P246 or higher, as specified by the vendor. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the updated firmware in controlled environments before deployment to production devices. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of any successful attacks. Additionally, organizations should review their device management policies to ensure that all network-connected devices receive timely security updates and that proper vulnerability management processes are in place. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for malicious file execution, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams implementing comprehensive threat detection and response strategies.