CVE-2025-8452 is a vulnerability in Brother Industries, Ltd's DCP-L8410CDW multi-function printers that arises from the exposure of sensitive information via the eSCL protocol's 'uscan' feature. The eSCL (eSCL: eSCL Scan) protocol is used for network scanning and discovery services. An attacker on the local network can query the printer using the 'uscan' protocol to obtain the device's serial number. This serial number is sensitive because it can be used to derive the default administrator password through a known weakness described in CVE-2024-51978. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-538, which involves the insertion or exposure of sensitive information in files or directories accessible externally. The flaw does not require authentication or user interaction but is limited to local network access, reducing its attack surface. The vulnerability is similar to CVE-2024-51977, differing only in the protocol vector used to obtain the serial number. Since the default administrator password can be calculated from the serial number, an attacker could gain administrative access if the default password remains unchanged. However, changing the default password effectively mitigates the vulnerability. There are no patches currently listed, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting low confidentiality impact and no impact on integrity or availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges or user interaction required.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily in environments where Brother DCP-L8410CDW printers are deployed and connected to local networks without proper segmentation or access controls. An attacker gaining administrative access to a printer could manipulate device settings, intercept print jobs, or use the device as a foothold for lateral movement within the network. Confidentiality is impacted by the exposure of the serial number and potentially administrative credentials if default passwords are unchanged. While the vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or availability, unauthorized administrative access could lead to configuration changes or denial of service. The risk is heightened in sectors with sensitive document handling such as government, finance, healthcare, and legal services. Additionally, the local network restriction limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised internal devices could leverage this vulnerability. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but should not lead to complacency. Organizations with large deployments of Brother printers should assess their exposure and implement mitigations promptly.

1. Immediately change the default administrator password on all Brother DCP-L8410CDW printers to a strong, unique password to invalidate the calculated default password attack vector. 2. Restrict access to printer management interfaces by implementing network segmentation and firewall rules that limit access to trusted devices and administrators only. 3. Disable or restrict the use of the eSCL 'uscan' protocol if it is not required for business operations, or monitor its usage closely. 4. Regularly audit printer configurations and network access logs to detect unauthorized access attempts. 5. Maintain an inventory of all Brother printers and verify firmware versions; monitor for vendor patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. 6. Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability and the importance of changing default credentials on networked devices. 7. Consider deploying network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures to detect unusual eSCL protocol activity. 8. For environments with sensitive data, consider isolating printers on dedicated VLANs with strict access controls.