CVE-2024-27908 in Printer
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2024
A buffer overflow vulnerability was reported in the HTTPS service of some Lenovo Printers that could result in denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2024
The buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27908 affects the HTTPS service implementation within specific Lenovo printer models, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the device's operational integrity. This vulnerability resides in the secure web interface component that manages encrypted communications between administrators and the printer's embedded web server. The flaw manifests when the printer's HTTPS service processes incoming requests containing oversized data payloads, particularly in HTTP headers or request parameters that exceed predetermined buffer limits. Such an overflow condition creates a situation where adjacent memory regions become overwritten, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and complete service disruption. The vulnerability affects multiple Lenovo printer models that incorporate embedded web servers for remote management and configuration, making it a widespread concern across enterprise printing environments where these devices are commonly deployed.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs through carefully crafted HTTP requests sent to the printer's HTTPS port, typically port 443 or alternative secure ports configured for web management. When the vulnerable printer receives a malformed request with excessive data in headers such as User-Agent, Authorization, or custom HTTP parameters, the insufficient input validation causes the memory buffer to overflow. This overflow can overwrite critical program execution pointers, stack frames, or other essential data structures within the printer's embedded operating system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-122, indicating stack-based buffer overflow scenarios. The underlying flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate memory management within the printer's web service implementation, creating a pathway for attackers to cause system instability through simple network-based attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-27908 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can severely disrupt business operations in enterprise environments where printers serve as critical components of document management systems. Organizations relying on remote printer management capabilities may experience complete service outages, forcing administrators to physically access devices for recovery procedures. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate denial of service attacks from anywhere on the network, potentially causing cascading failures in document processing workflows, print queue disruptions, and interruption of critical business processes. In large-scale deployments, multiple printers could be simultaneously affected, creating widespread operational disruption that requires immediate remediation efforts. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to potentially escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code if the buffer overflow leads to memory corruption that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks, though the current analysis focuses on the denial of service impact.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from Lenovo that address the buffer overflow conditions in the HTTPS service implementation. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to isolate printer devices from critical network segments, reducing potential attack surface exposure. Access controls should be enforced through firewall rules that limit HTTPS access to authorized management systems only, preventing unauthorized exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability scanning should include detection of affected printer models and monitoring for exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which addresses network denial of service attacks, and represents a critical defensive measure against remote exploitation. Additionally, implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed HTTP requests targeting the HTTPS service ports provides early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining audit logs for forensic analysis should incidents occur.