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Samsung Printer firmware contains a hardcoded SNMP community string

Vulnerability Note VU#281284

Original Release Date: 2012-11-26 | Last Revised: 2012-12-07

Overview

Samsung printers contain a hardcoded SNMP community string that could allow a remote attacker to take control of an affected device.

Description

Samsung printers (as well as some Dell printers manufactured by Samsung) contain a hardcoded SNMP full read-write community string that remains active even when SNMP is disabled in the printer management utility.

Impact

A remote, unauthenticated attacker could access an affected device with administrative read/write privileges. Secondary impacts include: the ability to make changes to the device configuration, access to sensitive information (e.g., device and network information, credentials, and information passed to the printer), and possibility the ability to leverage further attacks through arbitrary code execution.

Solution

Samsung and Dell have stated that models released after October 31, 2012 are not affected by this vulnerability. Samsung has also indicated that they will be releasing a patch tool later this year to address vulnerable devices.

Dell also indicated that they have released updated firmware for all affected models currently being sold to address this vulnerability. A copy of this updated firmware is available for download at: http://del.ly/PrinterSNMPFix

Block Port 1118/udp

The reporter has stated that blocking the custom SNMP trap port of 1118/udp will help mitigate the risks.

Restrict Access

As a general good security practice, only allow connections from trusted hosts and networks. Restricting access would prevent an attacker from accessing an SNMP interface using the affected credentials from a blocked network location. (e.g. Using IP filtering and Mac address filtering)

Disable SNMP protocol

Samsung is advising end users to disable SNMPv1, 2 or use the secure SNMPv3 mode until the firmware updates are released.
*Note that the vulnerability reporter has stated that the community string that remains active even when SNMP is disabled in the printer management utility.

Vendor Information

281284
 

Dell Computer Corporation, Inc. Affected

Notified:  August 23, 2012 Updated: December 07, 2012

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

Dell stated that models released after October 31, 2012 are not affected by this vulnerability. Dell also indicated that they have released updated firmware for all affected models currently being sold to address this vulnerability. A copy of this updated firmware is available for download at: http://del.ly/PrinterSNMPFix

Vendor Information

We are not aware of further vendor information regarding this vulnerability.

Vendor References

Samsung Affected

Notified:  August 23, 2012 Updated: November 29, 2012

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

Samsung is aware of and has resolved the security issue affecting Samsung network printers and multifunction devices. The issue affects devices only when SNMP is enabled, and is resolved by disabling SNMP.

We take all matters of security very seriously and we are not aware of any customers who have been affected by this vulnerability. Samsung is committed to releasing updated firmware for all current models by November 30, with all other models receiving an update by the end of the year. We encourage end users to disable SNMPv1, 2 or use the secure SNMPv3 mode until the firmware updates are made.

Vendor Information

We are not aware of further vendor information regarding this vulnerability.


CVSS Metrics

Group Score Vector
Base 9 AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:P
Temporal 6.5 E:U/RL:W/RC:UC
Environmental 1.9 CDP:LM/TD:L/CR:ND/IR:ND/AR:ND

References

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Neil Smith for reporting this vulnerability

This document was written by Katie Steiner

Other Information

CVE IDs: CVE-2012-4964
Date Public: 2012-11-26
Date First Published: 2012-11-26
Date Last Updated: 2012-12-07 14:43 UTC
Document Revision: 50

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