CVE-2024-21824 in Printer
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2024
Improper authentication vulnerability in exists in multiple printers and scanners which implement Web Based Management provided by BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD. If this vulnerability is exploited, a network-adjacent user who can access the product may impersonate an administrative user. As for the details of affected product names, model numbers, and versions, refer to the information provided by the respective vendors listed under [References].
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical authentication flaw in brother printers and scanners that utilize web-based management interfaces. The issue stems from insufficient verification mechanisms that allow unauthorized network-adjacent attackers to escalate their privileges and assume administrative control over affected devices. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication process within the web management interface, creating a pathway for privilege escalation that bypasses normal access controls. According to industry standards, this weakness aligns with CWE-287 which describes improper authentication scenarios where systems fail to properly verify user identities before granting access to privileged functions. The flaw exists in the web-based management system implementation by brother industries ltd and affects multiple printer and scanner models across various firmware versions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to be network-adjacent to the affected device, meaning they must have access to the same local network segment. This adjacency requirement reduces the attack surface compared to remotely exploitable vulnerabilities but still presents significant risk in enterprise environments where network segmentation may not be properly enforced. Attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate administrative users, gaining full control over device configuration, user management, and potentially access to sensitive data processed through these devices. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to bypass the normal authentication checks that should prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited for extended periods without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches, device compromise, and network infiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can modify device configurations, install malicious firmware, monitor network traffic, or redirect print jobs to malicious destinations. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multifunction devices serve as critical components of the network infrastructure. The vulnerability can facilitate lateral movement within networks, as compromised devices can serve as stepping stones for accessing other systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can enable further exploitation through tactics such as credential access and persistence. Organizations may also face compliance violations and regulatory penalties if sensitive data is compromised through these device vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on network segmentation and access control implementation to limit adjacency requirements. Organizations should ensure that web management interfaces are not accessible from untrusted networks and implement proper firewall rules to restrict access to administrative interfaces. Regular firmware updates from brother industries ltd should be deployed immediately upon availability to address the authentication flaw. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative access patterns or unauthorized configuration changes. Additional security measures include implementing strong authentication mechanisms for administrative access, disabling unnecessary web management services when not required, and conducting regular security assessments of networked devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication implementation in embedded systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all network-accessible components in enterprise environments.