CVE-2023-50738

Root code execution via unvalidated firmware image

Published Jan 17, 2025 · Updated Jan 17, 2025

Improper firmware image validation in Lexmark Printer Firmware allows remote authenticated users to execute code as root. The /usr/bin/hydra service on TCP port 9100 uses a firmware image for an upgrade without properly validating it, allowing downgrade protection to be bypassed. Firmware-update permission and adjacent-network access are required under the vendor assessment; successful exploitation runs arbitrary code on the device.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper firmware image validation in Lexmark Printer Firmware allows remote authenticated users to execute code as root. The /usr/bin/hydra service on TCP port 9100 uses a firmware image for an upgrade without properly validating it, allowing downgrade protection to be bypassed. Firmware-update permission and adjacent-network access are required under the vendor assessment; successful exploitation runs arbitrary code on the device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-50738
Published
Jan 17, 2025
Updated
Jan 17, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-354, CWE-1328, CAPEC-21, T1601.002
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 17, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 17, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.3LexmarkCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
6.3Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-354Improper Validation of Integrity Check Value
CWE-1328Security Version Number Mutable to Older Versions
CAPEC-21Exploitation of Trusted Identifiers
T1601.002Downgrade System Image

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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