CVE-2025-7698 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125 that affects a broad range of Canon Inc.'s Generic Plus printer drivers, including PCL6, UFR II, LIPS4, LIPSLX, PS, UFRII LT, CARPS2, and Generic FAX drivers, specifically versions 3.30 and earlier. The vulnerability occurs during the print processing phase, where the driver improperly reads memory outside the allocated buffer boundaries. This flaw can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information residing in adjacent memory areas, potentially exposing confidential data processed by the printer driver. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N), but requires a high level of attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R), such as convincing a user to print a maliciously crafted document. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.9, indicating a medium severity level, with a high impact on confidentiality, no impact on integrity, and low impact on availability. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The affected drivers are commonly deployed in enterprise and office environments where Canon printers are used, making print servers and networked printers potential attack vectors. The vulnerability's exploitation could allow attackers to read sensitive information from memory, which may include print job data or other confidential information handled by the driver. Given the widespread use of Canon printers in Europe, this vulnerability poses a tangible risk to organizations relying on these drivers for their printing infrastructure.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-7698 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information processed by Canon printer drivers. This could include confidential documents, internal communications, or other data sent to printers, leading to breaches of data privacy and compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. The vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability but compromises confidentiality, which can have significant reputational and legal consequences. Organizations with networked printers or print servers running vulnerable Canon drivers are at risk, especially if attackers can lure users into printing malicious documents. The medium severity and requirement for user interaction reduce the likelihood of widespread exploitation, but targeted attacks against high-value organizations remain a concern. Additionally, print infrastructure is often overlooked in security strategies, increasing the risk of unnoticed exploitation. The lack of known exploits provides a window for proactive mitigation, but delayed patching could expose organizations to future attacks once exploit code becomes available.

1. Monitor Canon's official channels for patches or updated driver releases addressing CVE-2025-7698 and apply them promptly once available. 2. Until patches are released, restrict network access to printers and print servers by implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted users and systems only. 3. Educate users about the risks of printing documents from untrusted sources to reduce the likelihood of user interaction required for exploitation. 4. Implement strict print job filtering and scanning solutions that can detect and block malformed or suspicious print files. 5. Regularly audit and monitor print server logs and network traffic for unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Consider disabling or limiting the use of affected printer drivers where possible, or replacing them with alternative drivers or printer models not affected by this vulnerability. 7. Integrate printer security into the broader organizational cybersecurity framework, ensuring print infrastructure is included in vulnerability management and incident response plans.