CVE-2025-7698 is a medium severity vulnerability classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) affecting multiple Canon Inc. printer drivers, specifically the Generic Plus PCL6 Printer Driver and related drivers such as Generic Plus UFR II, LIPS4, LIPSLX, and PS Printer Drivers, versions 3.30 and earlier. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of print processing data, where the driver reads memory outside the intended buffer boundaries. This out-of-bounds read can lead to the disclosure of sensitive information from adjacent memory areas, potentially exposing confidential data processed by the printer driver. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.9, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), no integrity impact (I:N), and low availability impact (A:L). Exploitation requires an attacker to convince a user to interact with a malicious print job or document, which when processed by the vulnerable driver, triggers the out-of-bounds read. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk of information leakage and could be leveraged in targeted attacks to extract sensitive data from memory buffers. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates cautious handling of print jobs and driver updates. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Canon printer drivers widely used in enterprise and office environments, making it a relevant concern for organizations relying on Canon printing solutions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-7698 primarily involves potential confidentiality breaches through unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information processed by the affected Canon printer drivers. Since printers often handle confidential documents, including financial reports, personal data, and intellectual property, an out-of-bounds read could expose such data to attackers. The medium severity rating and requirement for user interaction reduce the likelihood of widespread automated exploitation but do not eliminate risks in targeted phishing or spear-phishing campaigns where malicious print jobs are sent to users. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited in environments where print servers or shared printers are accessible over the network, increasing the attack surface. The integrity and availability impacts are minimal, but confidentiality compromise alone can have significant regulatory and reputational consequences, especially under GDPR and other European data protection frameworks. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which handle sensitive data and rely on Canon printing solutions, may face increased risk. The absence of known exploits suggests a window for proactive mitigation before active exploitation occurs.

To mitigate CVE-2025-7698, European organizations should: 1) Immediately verify the versions of Canon printer drivers deployed across their environments and prioritize upgrading to versions later than 3.30 once Canon releases official patches. 2) Until patches are available, restrict access to printers using these drivers by limiting network exposure and enforcing strict access controls on print servers and endpoints. 3) Implement user awareness training focused on the risks of interacting with unsolicited or suspicious print jobs and documents, emphasizing caution with email attachments and print requests from unknown sources. 4) Monitor network traffic and print server logs for unusual print job submissions or anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting abnormal behavior related to printer driver processes. 6) Consider isolating printing infrastructure in segmented network zones to reduce lateral movement opportunities for attackers. 7) Engage with Canon support channels for timely updates and advisories regarding patches or workarounds. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, user behavior, and network segmentation tailored to the printing environment.