CVE-2024-47175 is a vulnerability in the OpenPrinting project's libppd library, which is part of the CUPS printing system widely used on Unix-like operating systems. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation (CWE-20) in the function ppdCreatePPDFromIPP2, which processes IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) attributes to create PPD (PostScript Printer Description) buffers. Specifically, the function does not sanitize user-controlled IPP attributes, allowing maliciously crafted input to influence the PPD buffer content. When combined with other functions such as cfGetPrinterAttributes5, this can lead to an exploit chain culminating in code execution via the Foomatic filter, a component used for printer driver support. The vulnerability affects libppd versions up to and including 2.1b1. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.6, reflecting a network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C) with no confidentiality impact but high integrity impact (I:H) and no availability impact (A:N). Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the vulnerability's characteristics suggest it could be weaponized for remote code execution without authentication, making it a significant threat to systems exposing CUPS services. The lack of patches at the time of publication means organizations must rely on mitigations until updates are released.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-47175 can be substantial, especially in environments where CUPS is deployed extensively for network printing services, including enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially leading to system compromise, lateral movement within networks, and data integrity breaches. Since printing services often run with elevated privileges or have access to sensitive documents, the integrity impact is high. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality directly but can be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks. Disruption of printing services could also affect business continuity. Given the network attack vector and no requirement for authentication, attackers can exploit exposed printing services remotely, increasing the risk for organizations with poorly segmented or exposed network printing infrastructure. The absence of user interaction requirements further elevates the threat level. Organizations relying on legacy PPD support are particularly vulnerable, as this functionality is directly implicated.

1. Monitor OpenPrinting and CUPS project channels for official patches addressing CVE-2024-47175 and apply updates promptly once available. 2. Until patches are released, restrict network access to CUPS services by implementing firewall rules limiting connections to trusted hosts and networks only. 3. Disable legacy PPD support or the libppd component if not strictly necessary, reducing the attack surface. 4. Employ network segmentation to isolate printing infrastructure from critical systems and sensitive data environments. 5. Enable detailed logging and monitor print job submissions and IPP attribute requests for anomalous or unexpected patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Conduct internal vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on printing services to identify exposure. 7. Educate IT staff about this vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include scenarios involving printing system compromise. 8. Consider deploying application-layer firewalls or intrusion detection systems capable of inspecting IPP traffic for malicious payloads. 9. Review and harden printer configurations, removing unnecessary services and disabling remote administration features where possible.