CVE-2024-35244VulnerabilityPublished 26 Nov 2024Updated 4 Nov 2025

CVE-2024-35244: Sharp Multiple MFPs (multifunction printers) · Use of hard-coded credentials

Affects Sharp Multiple MFPs (multifunction printers)Source CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.1 Critical.

Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

9.1Critical

How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

EPSS: 1.0% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 64% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: None

Bold values are the worst case: easiest to exploit or largest impact.

Attack Vector: Network: The vulnerable component is bound to the network stack and the set of possible attackers extends beyond the other options listed, up to and including the entire Internet. Such a vulnerability is often termed 'remotely exploitable' and can be thought of as an attack being exploitable at the protocol level one or more network hops away (e.g., across one or more routers).
Attack Complexity: Low: Specialized access conditions or extenuating circumstances do not exist. An attacker can expect repeatable success against the vulnerable component.
Privileges Required: None: The attacker is unauthorized prior to attack, and therefore does not require any access to settings or files to carry out an attack.
User Interaction: None: The vulnerable system can be exploited without any interaction from any user.
Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority. In this case, the vulnerable component and the impacted component are either the same, or both are managed by the same security authority.
Confidentiality: High: There is total loss of confidentiality, resulting in all resources within the impacted component being divulged to the attacker. Alternatively, access to only some restricted information is obtained, but the disclosed information presents a direct, serious impact.
Integrity: High: There is a total loss of integrity, or a complete loss of protection. For example, the attacker is able to modify any/all files protected by the impacted component. Alternatively, only some files can be modified, but malicious modification would present a direct, serious consequence to the impacted component.
Availability: None: There is no impact to availability within the impacted component.

Definitions: FIRST CVSS v3.1 specification.

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 26 Nov 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-25.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponised: Public exploit code exists in Metasploit or Exploit-DB, or CISA SSVC reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

AI-suggested

Organizations should immediately consult Sharp Corporation's official advisories to identify affected models and apply any available firmware updates or patches. In the absence of patches, network-level mitigations should be implemented, including isolating MFPs on dedicated VLANs with strict access controls and monitoring network traffic for anomalous activity related to printer management protocols. Disable or restrict access to maintenance accounts where possible, and change default or hard-coded credentials if the device allows. Employ network segmentation to limit the exposure of MFPs to untrusted networks and enforce strong authentication mechanisms for device management interfaces. Regularly audit and monitor logs for unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying lateral movement originating from compromised printers. Vendor engagement is critical to ensure timely updates and to understand the full scope of affected devices. Finally, incorporate these devices into the organization's broader vulnerability management and incident response plans.

Description

There are several hidden accounts. Some of them are intended for maintenance engineers, and with the knowledge of their passwords (e.g., by examining the coredump), these accounts can be used to re-configure the device. As for the details of affected product names, model numbers, and versions, refer to the information provided by the respective vendors listed under [References].

Impact

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information processed through Sharp MFPs. Attackers exploiting the hard-coded credentials can gain unauthorized administrative access to the devices, potentially intercepting confidential print jobs, altering device configurations, or using the compromised printers as pivot points for broader network intrusions. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or disruption of business operations. Given the critical nature of multifunction printers in office workflows, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, government, and legal services, the impact could be substantial. Furthermore, compromised devices could be leveraged to bypass network security controls or to launch attacks against other internal systems. The lack of availability impact means the devices remain operational, potentially masking the compromise. European organizations with large deployments of Sharp MFPs or those integrated into sensitive environments are particularly vulnerable. The threat also raises compliance concerns under regulations such as GDPR, where unauthorized access to personal data could result in significant penalties.

Summary

CVE-2024-35244 identifies a critical security vulnerability in multiple Sharp Corporation multifunction printers (MFPs) caused by the presence of hard-coded credentials embedded in hidden maintenance accounts. These accounts are intended for use by maintenance engineers but are accessible if an attacker can obtain the passwords, for instance, by analyzing device coredumps. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to the device, enabling reconfiguration and potentially further compromise of the network environment. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.1 reflects the vulnerability's high impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no requirement for privileges or user interaction, and no impact on availability. The vulnerability affects multiple models and versions, with detailed affected product information provided by Sharp Corporation. Exploitation can be performed remotely over the network, making it a significant threat vector. Although no active exploits have been reported in the wild, the risk remains substantial due to the ease of exploitation and the critical role MFPs play in enterprise environments. Attackers leveraging these credentials could manipulate device configurations, intercept or alter print jobs, or use the compromised device as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks. The vulnerability underscores the risks associated with embedded devices that have hard-coded credentials, a common but dangerous security flaw in IoT and networked hardware.

References

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Exploitation evidence

What to do

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 4 Nov 2025, 17:56 UTC

Technical details

References

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