Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-24805

RCE in Linuxfoundation Cups-Filters ≤ 2.0

Published
17 May 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.037 89th percentile
Risk Priority 73 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-24805 is a high-severity OS Command Injection (CWE-78) vulnerability in Linuxfoundation Cups-Filters. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059); ranked in the top 11% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2023-24805 affects the cups-filters package, which supplies backends, filters, and related components needed to integrate the CUPS printing service on non-macOS operating systems. The flaw resides in the Backend Error Handler (beh) implemented in beh.c, where the statement retval = system(cmdline) >> 8; passes an unsanitized cmdline string containing multiple attacker-controlled values directly to the system() call, enabling OS command injection (CWE-78). The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8.

An attacker with network access to a print server that exposes the beh backend can supply crafted input that results in arbitrary commands executing in the context of the cups-filters process, achieving remote code execution with impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The issue was corrected in commit 8f2740357 of the cups-filters repository. Project and distribution advisories recommend upgrading to a patched version as soon as it becomes available and, until then, restricting network access to affected printers. Debian and Fedora have published corresponding updates and package announcements.

EPSS for the CVE reached a modest peak of 0.1070 before receding to the current value of 0.0930, indicating limited but detectable post-disclosure interest.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

cups-filters contains backends, filters, and other software required to get the cups printing service working on operating systems other than macos. If you use the Backend Error Handler (beh) to create an accessible network printer, this security vulnerability can cause…

more

remote code execution. `beh.c` contains the line `retval = system(cmdline) >> 8;` which calls the `system` command with the operand `cmdline`. `cmdline` contains multiple user controlled, unsanitized values. As a result an attacker with network access to the hosted print server can exploit this vulnerability to inject system commands which are executed in the context of the running server. This issue has been addressed in commit `8f2740357` and is expected to be bundled in the next release. Users are advised to upgrade when possible and to restrict access to network printers in the meantime.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
T1059.003 Windows Command Shell Execution
Adversaries may abuse the Windows command shell for execution.
T1059.004 Unix Shell Execution
Adversaries may abuse Unix shell commands and scripts for execution.
T1059.001 PowerShell Execution
Adversaries may abuse PowerShell commands and scripts for execution.
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2020-16846Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2020-8813Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2025-63261Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2023-51385Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2011-2523Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2023-5002Same product: Fedoraproject Fedora
CVE-2018-7187Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2024-10224Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2019-10149Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2024-4577Same product: Fedoraproject Fedora

Affected Assets

linuxfoundation
cups-filters
2.0 · ≤ 2.0
fedoraproject
fedora
37, 38
debian
debian linux
10.0, 11.0

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.2.5
  • V1.2.8
  • V15.2.5

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-78

Platform-independent apps typically execute inside a managed runtime or sandbox that restricts direct OS command execution, reducing the ability to exploit OS command injection.

addresses: CWE-78

Validates inputs to block special elements that would alter OS command execution.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly require secure coding and input handling that blocks command-injection defects, yet the single broad outcome leaves many specific neutralization vectors and verification gaps unaddressed.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Routine patching/maintenance can remediate known command-injection CVEs in dependencies (partial forward) but does nothing to stop developers from introducing improper neutralization in custom code (none reverse).

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing and code review target insecure use of operating-system command interfaces, catching command-injection flaws introduced during development.

References