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Decade-Old Linux Vulnerability Can Be Exploited for DDoS Attacks on CUPS
This article explores the Linux vulnerability discovered by Simone Margaritelli, which, according to cybersecurity companies Uptycs and Akamai,…
This article explores the Linux vulnerability discovered by Simone Margaritelli, which, according to cybersecurity companies Uptycs and Akamai, can be exploited for additional malicious purposes, including RCE and DDoS attacks against the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS).
Hackread.com recently reported a critical Linux vulnerability, discovered by cybersecurity researcher Simone Margaritelli (aka evilsocket), which could allow attackers to gain complete control of GNU/Linux systems, potentially allowing Linux Remote code execution. This decade-old flaw affects all GNU/Linux systems and has a severity score of 9.9 out of 10, indicating immense potential for damage if exploited.
As per the latest updates, new findings from Cloud computing giant, Akamai, and cybersecurity firm, Uptycs, highlight an even more immediate concern: exploiting the issue for devastating DDoS attacks and carrying out remote code execution (RCE) in Linux.
****Uptycs Research****
Uptycs threat research team identified vulnerabilities in CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System), which can be exploited to install malicious printers and execute unauthenticated remote code execution attacks. CUPS is a widely used open-source printing system for Linux and Unix-like operating systems, allowing users to share printers on a network and manage printing jobs.
The vulnerability resides in the cups-browsed daemon, a component that searches for available network printers. An attacker can exploit this flaw by sending a malicious packet to a vulnerable CUPS service. This packet tricks the service into fetching a non-existent printer description file from a target server specified by the attacker.
According to researchers, attackers can create a malicious PPD file and send it to a vulnerable CUPS server, requiring the cups-browsed daemon to be enabled, UDP port 631 open, and the victim to print to the malicious printer.
****Akamai Research****
Researchers at Akamai SIRT (Security Incident Response Team) also discovered a flaw that allows attackers to exploit vulnerable CUPS servers and turn them into unwitting amplifiers for distributed- denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, allowing attackers to exploit vulnerable servers and turn them into unwitting DDoS hosts.
According to the company’s blog post published on October 01, 2024, the attack involves misinterpreting a UDP packet, downloading malicious data, and establishing multiple TCP connections to a target system, potentially causing an outage.
****The Scope of the Problem:****
- Akamai identified over 198,000 internet-connected devices running CUPS.
- Roughly 34% (over 58,000) of these devices were vulnerable to the attack.
- Outdated CUPS versions (released as far back as 2007) were the most susceptible.
- Testing revealed potential amplification factors of up to 600x, significantly increasing attack power.
The issues discussed in these reports are directly related to the Linux vulnerability discovered by Margaritelli because his identified vulnerability involves a remote code execution exploit chain that targets the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS).
This exploit chain leverages several vulnerabilities, including CVE-2024-47175 (libppd), CVE-2024-47176 (cups-browsed), CVE-2024-47177 (cups-filters), and CVE-2024-47076 (libcupsfilters).
To stay protected, install the latest version of CUPS and ensure all system components, such as libcupsfilters, libppd, and cups-filters, are updated. Disable or configure cups-browsed daemon, if printing isn’t essential, or restrict access to it to trusted devices. Strengthen network security with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and IPS, and regularly review and update security policies.
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Related news
Ubuntu Security Notice 7043-2 - USN-7043-1 fixed a vulnerability in cups-filters. This update provides the corresponding update for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Simone Margaritelli discovered that the cups-filters cups-browsed component could be used to create arbitrary printers from outside the local network. In combination with issues in other printing components, a remote attacker could possibly use this issue to connect to a system, created manipulated PPD files, and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used. This update disables support for the legacy CUPS printer discovery protocol.
Ubuntu Security Notice 7041-2 - USN-7041-1 fixed a vulnerability in CUPS. This update provides the corresponding update for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Simone Margaritelli discovered that CUPS incorrectly sanitized IPP data when creating PPD files. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to manipulate PPD files and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used.
Debian Linux Security Advisory 5779-1 - Simone Margaritelli reported that cups, the Common UNIX Printing System, does not properly sanitize IPP attributes when creating PPD files, which may result in the execution of arbitrary code.
Debian Linux Security Advisory 5778-1 - Simone Margaritelli reported several vulnerabilities in cups-filters. Missing validation of IPP attributes returned from an IPP server and multiple bugs in the cups-browsed component can result in the execution of arbitrary commands without authentication when a print job is started.
Debian Linux Security Advisory 5778-1 - Simone Margaritelli reported several vulnerabilities in cups-filters. Missing validation of IPP attributes returned from an IPP server and multiple bugs in the cups-browsed component can result in the execution of arbitrary commands without authentication when a print job is started.
Red Hat Security Advisory 2024-7346-03 - An update for cups-filters is now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9. Issues addressed include a code execution vulnerability.
Ubuntu Security Notice 7045-1 - Simone Margaritelli discovered that libppd incorrectly sanitized IPP data when creating PPD files. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to manipulate PPD files and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used.
Ubuntu Security Notice 7044-1 - Simone Margaritelli discovered that libcupsfilters incorrectly sanitized IPP data when creating PPD files. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to manipulate PPD files and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used.
Ubuntu Security Notice 7043-1 - Simone Margaritelli discovered that the cups-filters cups-browsed component could be used to create arbitrary printers from outside the local network. In combination with issues in other printing components, a remote attacker could possibly use this issue to connect to a system, created manipulated PPD files, and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used. This update disables support for the legacy CUPS printer discovery protocol. Simone Margaritelli discovered that cups-filters incorrectly sanitized IPP data when creating PPD files. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to manipulate PPD files and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used.
Ubuntu Security Notice 7043-1 - Simone Margaritelli discovered that the cups-filters cups-browsed component could be used to create arbitrary printers from outside the local network. In combination with issues in other printing components, a remote attacker could possibly use this issue to connect to a system, created manipulated PPD files, and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used. This update disables support for the legacy CUPS printer discovery protocol. Simone Margaritelli discovered that cups-filters incorrectly sanitized IPP data when creating PPD files. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to manipulate PPD files and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used.
Ubuntu Security Notice 7042-1 - Simone Margaritelli discovered that cups-browsed could be used to create arbitrary printers from outside the local network. In combination with issues in other printing components, a remote attacker could possibly use this issue to connect to a system, created manipulated PPD files, and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used. This update disables support for the legacy CUPS printer discovery protocol.
Ubuntu Security Notice 7041-1 - Simone Margaritelli discovered that CUPS incorrectly sanitized IPP data when creating PPD files. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to manipulate PPD files and execute arbitrary code when a printer is used.
A new set of security vulnerabilities has been disclosed in the OpenPrinting Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) on Linux systems that could permit remote command execution under certain conditions. "A remote unauthenticated attacker can silently replace existing printers' (or install new ones) IPP urls with a malicious one, resulting in arbitrary command execution (on the computer) when a print
A new set of security vulnerabilities has been disclosed in the OpenPrinting Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) on Linux systems that could permit remote command execution under certain conditions. "A remote unauthenticated attacker can silently replace existing printers' (or install new ones) IPP urls with a malicious one, resulting in arbitrary command execution (on the computer) when a print
A new set of security vulnerabilities has been disclosed in the OpenPrinting Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) on Linux systems that could permit remote command execution under certain conditions. "A remote unauthenticated attacker can silently replace existing printers' (or install new ones) IPP urls with a malicious one, resulting in arbitrary command execution (on the computer) when a print
A new set of security vulnerabilities has been disclosed in the OpenPrinting Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) on Linux systems that could permit remote command execution under certain conditions. "A remote unauthenticated attacker can silently replace existing printers' (or install new ones) IPP urls with a malicious one, resulting in arbitrary command execution (on the computer) when a print
TL;DR: All versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are affected by CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176 and CVE-2024-47177, but are not vulnerable in their default configurations.Red Hat has been made aware of a group of vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176 and CVE-2024-47177) within OpenPrinting CUPS, an open source printing system that is prevalent in most modern Linux distributions, including RHEL. Specifically, CUPS provides tools to manage, discover and share printers for Linux distributions. By chaining this group of vulnerabilities together, an a
TL;DR: All versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are affected by CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176 and CVE-2024-47177, but are not vulnerable in their default configurations.Red Hat has been made aware of a group of vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176 and CVE-2024-47177) within OpenPrinting CUPS, an open source printing system that is prevalent in most modern Linux distributions, including RHEL. Specifically, CUPS provides tools to manage, discover and share printers for Linux distributions. By chaining this group of vulnerabilities together, an a
TL;DR: All versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are affected by CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176 and CVE-2024-47177, but are not vulnerable in their default configurations.Red Hat has been made aware of a group of vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176 and CVE-2024-47177) within OpenPrinting CUPS, an open source printing system that is prevalent in most modern Linux distributions, including RHEL. Specifically, CUPS provides tools to manage, discover and share printers for Linux distributions. By chaining this group of vulnerabilities together, an a
TL;DR: All versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are affected by CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176 and CVE-2024-47177, but are not vulnerable in their default configurations.Red Hat has been made aware of a group of vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176 and CVE-2024-47177) within OpenPrinting CUPS, an open source printing system that is prevalent in most modern Linux distributions, including RHEL. Specifically, CUPS provides tools to manage, discover and share printers for Linux distributions. By chaining this group of vulnerabilities together, an a