PaperCut NG, PaperCut MF: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
CVE-2024-1222 is a critical-severity execution with unnecessary privileges vulnerability in PaperCut NG, PaperCut MF from PaperCut, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 23.0.7, 22.1.5, 21.2.14 as the first without the flaw, so updating PaperCut NG, PaperCut MF to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 64% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 0.76% of all scored CVEs.
Exploitation in the next 30 days is more likely than not, according to EPSS.
What to do
- Update PaperCut NG, PaperCut MF to 23.0.7 or 22.1.5 or 21.2.14 or 20.1.10, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update papercut_mf to 23.0.7 or 22.1.5 or 21.2.14 or 20.1.10, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update papercut_ng to 23.0.7 or 22.1.5 or 21.2.14 or 20.1.10, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on papercut.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| PaperCut | PaperCut NG, PaperCut MF | before 23.0.7; before 22.1.5; before 21.2.14; before 20.1.10 | 23.0.7, 22.1.5, 21.2.14, 20.1.10 |
| Papercut | papercut_mf | before 23.0.7; before 22.1.5; before 21.2.14; before 20.1.10 | 23.0.7, 22.1.5, 21.2.14, 20.1.10 |
| Papercut | papercut_ng | before 23.0.7; before 22.1.5; before 21.2.14; before 20.1.10 | 23.0.7, 22.1.5, 21.2.14, 20.1.10 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.6 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
This allows attackers to use a maliciously formed API request to gain access to an API authorization level with elevated privileges. This applies to a small subset of PaperCut NG/MF API calls.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
The product performs an operation at a privilege level that is higher than the minimum level required, which creates new weaknesses or amplifies the consequences of other weaknesses.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.
- Identify the functionality that requires additional privileges, such as access to privileged operating system resources. Wrap and centralize this functionality if possible, and isolate the privileged code as much as possible from other code. Raise privileges as late as possible, and drop them as soon as possible to avoid CWE-271. Avoid weaknesses such as CWE-288 and CWE-420 by protecting all possible communication channels that could interact with the privileged code, such as a secondary socket that is only intended to be accessed by administrators.
- Identify the functionality that requires additional privileges, such as access to privileged operating system resources. Wrap and centralize this functionality if possible, and isolate the privileged code as much as possible from other code. Raise privileges as late as possible, and drop them as soon as possible to avoid CWE-271. Avoid weaknesses such as CWE-288 and CWE-420 by protecting all possible communication channels that could interact with the privileged code, such as a secondary socket that is only intended to be accessed by administrators.
More Execution with Unnecessary Privileges vulnerabilities (CWE-250)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in PaperCut NG, PaperCut MF
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Execution with Unnecessary Privileges vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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