Update: HP printer vulnerabilities

[bwoodard () CISCO COM (bwoodard () CISCO COM)]

HP has finally addressed the two big bugs that allow anyone to crash a
network connected printer.

The first bug is their succeptability to the nestea2 and other TCP/IP
exploits. This bug is fixed in several releases of firmware for their
different cards. A05.08 is for most HP 5 series network printers. This
release have been available for some time but they yet to release it
to their web site. You must contact their support organization and ask
for it specifically.

The second bug only affects HP 5m and some 5si's with older formatter
firmware. This bug is due to a communication error between the printer
and the network interface. Using a simple multivarible SNMP getnext
command, you can crash the network interface causing the printer to
drop off the network. HP has provided the a beta firmware release
A05.09 that addresses this issue. If you want to get this bugfix
please contact HP customer care, indicate that you are getting a 79 SE
problem with a 5M and ask for the BETA A.05.09 release which cisco
has. Once they are comfortable that this firmware has been tested
widly without incident they will release it.

In my opinion both these firmware releases should be considered
manditory anywhere where printer's are exposed to untrusted network
traffic. I would strongly advise any institution that does not have
their printers firewalled off (and most that do) to apply this patched
firmware to eliminate the possibility of a widespread DOS attack.

-ben