CVE-2019-13171 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Xerox printers, including the Phaser 3320 V53.006.16.000, were vulnerable to stack-based buffer overflow issues in the Google Cloud Print implementation, allowing unauthorized code execution.

Understanding CVE-2019-13171

What is CVE-2019-13171?

Certain Xerox printers, like the Phaser 3320 V53.006.16.000, faced security vulnerabilities due to stack-based buffer overflow flaws in the Google Cloud Print implementation. These vulnerabilities permitted malicious actors to run arbitrary code on the impacted devices. The root cause was attributed to inadequate handling of register parameters, specifically the unchecked size in a memcpy() function responsible for copying the action value into a local variable.

The Impact of CVE-2019-13171

The vulnerabilities in CVE-2019-13171 could be exploited by unauthorized attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected Xerox printers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or device compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-13171

Vulnerability Description

The security flaws in CVE-2019-13171 were related to stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the Google Cloud Print implementation on Xerox printers, allowing for arbitrary code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Xerox printers, such as Phaser 3320 V53.006.16.000
Vendor: Xerox
Versions: Not specified

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerabilities stemmed from insecure handling of register parameters, particularly the lack of proper size validation in a memcpy() function copying the action value into a local variable.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Xerox promptly.
Implement network segmentation to limit printer exposure.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities targeting printers.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update printer firmware to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing on printers.

Patching and Updates

Xerox may release patches or updates to address the CVE-2019-13171 vulnerabilities. Stay informed about security bulletins and apply patches as soon as they are available.