PrintNightmare
Security vulnerability in Microsoft Windows
PrintNightmare CVE identifier(s) CVE-2021-1675 CVE-2021-34527
CVE-2021-34481 Date discovered June 29, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-06-29 ) Date patched July 6, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-07-06 ) [ 1] Discoverer Sangfor[ 2] [ 3] Affected software Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11Microsoft Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022[ 4]
PrintNightmare is a critical security vulnerability affecting the Microsoft Windows operating system.[ 2] [ 5] The vulnerability occurred within the print spooler service.[ 6] [ 7] There were two variants, one permitting remote code execution (CVE-2021-34527), and the other leading to privilege escalation (CVE-2021-1675).[ 7] [ 8] A third vulnerability (CVE-2021-34481) was announced July 15, 2021, and upgraded to remote code execution by Microsoft in August.[ 9] [ 10]
On July 6, 2021, Microsoft started releasing out-of-band (unscheduled) patches attempting to address the vulnerability.[ 11] Due to its severity, Microsoft released patches for Windows 7 , for which support had ended in January 2020.[ 11] [ 12] The patches resulted in some printers ceasing to function.[ 13] [ 14] Researchers have noted that the vulnerability has not been fully addressed by the patches.[ 15] After the patch is applied, only administrator accounts on Windows print server will be able to install printer drivers.[ 16] Part of the vulnerability related to the ability of non-administrators to install printer drivers on the system, such as shared printers on system without sharing password protection.[ 16]
The organization which discovered the vulnerability, Sangfor, published a proof of concept in a public GitHub repository.[ 3] [ 17] Apparently published in error, or as a result of a miscommunication between the researchers and Microsoft, the proof of concept was deleted shortly after.[ 3] [ 18] However, several copies have since appeared online.[ 3]
See also
References
^ "July 6, 2021—KB5004945 (OS Builds 19041.1083, 19042.1083, and 19043.1083) Out-of-band" . Microsoft Support . Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ a b Valinsky, Jordan (July 9, 2021). "Microsoft issues urgent security warning: Update your PC immediately" . CNN Business . Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ a b c d Corfield, Gareth (June 30, 2021). "Leaked print spooler exploit lets Windows users remotely execute code as system on your domain controller" . The Register . Archived from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ "Security Update Guide - Microsoft Security Response Center" . msrc.microsoft.com . Retrieved June 17, 2024 .
^ "Microsoft fixes critical PrintNightmare bug" . BBC News . July 7, 2021. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ Winder, Davey (July 2, 2021). "New Critical Security Warning Issued For All Windows Versions As 'PrintNightmare' Confirmed" . Forbes . Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ a b "Security Update Guide - Microsoft Security Response Center" . msrc.microsoft.com . Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ "Microsoft Releases Out-of-Band Security Updates for PrintNightmare" . US-CERT . Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. July 6, 2021. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ "More PrintNightmare: 'We TOLD you not to turn the Print Spooler back on!' " . Naked Security . July 16, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021 .
^ "Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability CVE-2021-34481" . msrc.microsoft.com . Retrieved September 7, 2021 .
^ a b "Out-of-Band (OOB) Security Update available for CVE-2021-34527 – Microsoft Security Response Center" . Microsoft Security Response Center . Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ Sharwood, Simon (July 7, 2021). "Microsoft patches PrintNightmare – even on Windows 7 – but the terror isn't over" . The Register . Archived from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ Smith, Adam (July 9, 2021). "Microsoft fixes huge security bug – and breaks people's printers" . The Independent . Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ Lawler, Richard (July 8, 2021). "The Windows update to fix 'PrintNightmare' made some printers stop working" . The Verge . Vox Media. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ Goodin, Dan (July 8, 2021). "Microsoft Keeps Failing to Patch the Critical 'PrintNightmare' Bug" . Wired . Condé Nast. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ a b Mackie, Kurt (July 9, 2021). "Microsoft Clarifies Its 'PrintNightmare' Patch Advice -- Redmondmag.com" . Redmondmag . 1105 Media Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ Constantin, Lucian (July 8, 2021). "PrintNightmare Vulnerability Explained: Exploits, Patches, and Workarounds" . ARN . IDG Communications. Archived from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .
^ Warren, Tom (July 2, 2021). "Microsoft warns of Windows "PrintNightmare" vulnerability that's being actively exploited" . The Verge . Vox Media. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 .