CVE-2025-34234 is a critical vulnerability identified in the Vasion Print Virtual Appliance Host and its associated applications prior to versions 25.1.102 (Virtual Appliance Host) and 25.1.1413 (Application for VA/SaaS deployments). The core issue is the presence of two hardcoded private cryptographic keys embedded within the application containers (specifically printerlogic/pi, printerlogic/printer-admin-api, and printercloud/pi). These keys are stored in plaintext files located at /var/www/app/config/ named keyfile.ppk.dev and keyfile.saasid.ppk.dev. The application uses these keys as symmetric secrets for AES-256-CBC encryption and decryption of the “SaaS Id,” an external identifier, via the getEncryptedExternalId() and getDecryptedExternalId() methods. Because the keys are hardcoded and shipped within the container images, any attacker who can obtain access to the Docker image, or enumerate the filesystem of a deployed instance, can extract these keys. This compromises the confidentiality of the encrypted SaaS Ids, potentially allowing attackers to decrypt sensitive identifiers or impersonate legitimate entities. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-321 (Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key), which is a recognized cryptographic weakness that undermines the security guarantees of encryption mechanisms. The CVSS v4.0 score assigned is 9.2 (critical), reflecting the vulnerability’s high impact and ease of exploitation: it requires no privileges, no user interaction, and can be exploited remotely (network vector). Although a patch exists, the exact release date of the fix is unclear, meaning some deployments may remain vulnerable. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, but the severity and nature of the vulnerability make it a significant risk for affected environments.

For European organizations using Vasion Print Virtual Appliance Host or its SaaS applications, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to the confidentiality and integrity of their print management infrastructure. The exposure of hardcoded cryptographic keys can lead to unauthorized decryption of sensitive identifiers, potentially enabling attackers to impersonate users or services, manipulate print jobs, or gain further footholds within the network. Given that print services often integrate with enterprise authentication and document workflows, exploitation could facilitate lateral movement or data exfiltration. The vulnerability’s network-exploitable nature means attackers do not require prior access or authentication, increasing the likelihood of compromise in poorly segmented or exposed environments. Additionally, organizations relying on containerized deployments may inadvertently distribute vulnerable images internally or in cloud environments, broadening the attack surface. The lack of user interaction and privileges required further heightens the threat. This could impact confidentiality of sensitive business documents and disrupt printing services, affecting operational continuity. Compliance with European data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) could also be jeopardized if sensitive data is exposed or manipulated due to this flaw.

1. Immediate upgrade to the fixed versions: Organizations should prioritize updating the Vasion Print Virtual Appliance Host to version 25.1.102 or later, and the application to version 25.1.1413 or later, where this vulnerability has been remediated. 2. Audit and replace vulnerable container images: Review all deployed Docker images for the presence of the hardcoded keys and replace them with patched images. 3. Implement strict access controls: Limit access to container registries, image repositories, and filesystem paths where keys might be stored to prevent unauthorized enumeration. 4. Use runtime security tools: Deploy container security solutions that can detect the presence of sensitive files or secrets within running containers and alert on anomalous access patterns. 5. Rotate cryptographic keys: If possible, rotate any SaaS Id encryption keys and invalidate tokens or identifiers that may have been compromised. 6. Network segmentation: Isolate print infrastructure from critical business networks to reduce exposure. 7. Monitor logs and network traffic: Look for suspicious activities related to print services or unauthorized decryption attempts. 8. Engage with Vasion support: Confirm patch availability and deployment timelines, and request guidance on secure configuration best practices. 9. Avoid embedding secrets in code or images: For future deployments, advocate for secret management solutions that inject keys at runtime rather than baking them into images.