A critical vulnerability has been discovered in Microsoft's PostScript and PCL6 class printer drivers, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This particular vulnerability has been assigned the identifier CVE-2023-23413, and it poses a serious risk to systems that are exposed to these printer drivers. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the vulnerability, its impact, potential attack vectors, and what mitigation strategies can be applied to protect your systems.

Details of the Vulnerability

CVE-2023-23413 is a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting the Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 class printer drivers. Remote attackers can potentially exploit this vulnerability to take control of an affected system by sending maliciously crafted print job requests to a vulnerable computer. The vulnerability stems from the incorrect handling of memory objects by the printer drivers, which can lead to a buffer overflow condition. This can be exploited to execute arbitrary code in the context of the SYSTEM user.

Pseudocode Example of Exploitation Attempt

Below is an example of how an attacker might be able to exploit CVE-2023-23413 using a maliciously crafted print job request:

# Import necessary libraries
import socket

# Define the target IP address and port number (use your target's IP and port)
target_ip = "192.168.1.123"
target_port = 910

# Create the socket object
s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)

# Connect to the target
s.connect((target_ip, target_port))

# Construct the malicious print job request
exploit_payload = "[MALICIOUS_PRINT_JOB_REQUEST]"

# Send the malicious print job request
s.send(exploit_payload.encode("utf-8"))

# Close the connection
s.close()

NOTE: This code snippet is a simplified example meant for illustrative purposes only and should not be used for malicious purposes.

1. Official CVE description: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-23413
2. Microsoft Security Response Center: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-23413

Compromising a legitimate printer to send malicious print jobs to other devices

- Attackers with physical access to the target printer network might be able to exploit the vulnerability locally

Mitigation Strategies and Best Practices

To protect your systems against CVE-2023-23413, Microsoft has issued an official security update, which can be applied through regular Windows Update channels. It is highly recommended that you apply the patch as soon as possible.

Additionally, some best practices that can help further protect your systems from this vulnerability and others like it include:

Conclusion

CVE-2023-23413 is a critical Remote Code Execution vulnerability present in Microsoft’s PostScript and PCL6 class printer drivers, affecting Windows 10 and certain Windows Server versions. By exploiting this vulnerability, remote attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code on the target system, leading to unauthorized access and control. Defending against this vulnerability involves applying the necessary security updates provided by Microsoft and adhering to best practices for securing your networked printers and overall infrastructure.

Timeline

Published on: 03/14/2023 17:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 03/23/2023 16:55:00 UTC