How Hackers Use Print Jobs to Access Your Network

As cyber threats evolve, it’s crucial to recognize vulnerabilities in unexpected areas—such as your office printers. CyberScoop recently uncovered serious vulnerabilities in the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS), a widely used printing system found in Linux-based operating systems like Red Hat, Debian, and Ubuntu. These flaws expose millions of devices to significant risk, allowing hackers to execute malicious commands through something as routine as a print job.

 

The Print Job Threat: What You Need to Know

The vulnerabilities in OpenPrinting CUPS allow attackers to manipulate the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), which controls how printers and computers communicate. Hackers can replace or create new IPP printer URLs, setting up fake printers on the network. When users attempt to send print jobs to these compromised devices, they unknowingly trigger malicious commands, which run on their computers.

 

How the Attack Works

1. Vulnerability Exploitation: A hacker alters the IPP URL in the CUPS system, setting up a fake printer on the network.
2. Fake Printer Setup: The malicious printer is recognized as legitimate by the system.
3. Command Execution: When a user initiates a print job, the fake printer executes harmful code on the user’s device, giving attackers access to the network.

This exploit gives hackers an entry point to sensitive data, allowing them to gain control over devices and potentially compromise the entire network.

 

Why Print Security Is Essential for Your Business

Many companies focus on securing their computers, servers, and networks, often neglecting their printers. This oversight can be disastrous. Printers, when compromised, can serve as gateways for hackers to access critical business data. Ensuring print security is an essential component of any comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

 

Novatech’s MPS and Cybersecurity Solutions: A Unified Approach

At Novatech, our Managed Print Services (MPS) practice, coupled with our industry-leading Cybersecurity solutions, offers complete protection for your entire office environment—including your print infrastructure. We provide proactive monitoring, secure print authentication, and advanced threat detection, ensuring that every endpoint, including printers, is safeguarded against unauthorized access.

 

Get a Free Print Security Vulnerability Assessment

Are you confident in your print security? Novatech is offering a Free Print Security Vulnerability Assessment to help businesses identify and address weaknesses in their print environment. Our experts will assess your print setup, provide detailed recommendations, and ensure your network remains secure.

Contact us today to schedule your free assessment and protect your business from print-related cyber threats!