When you think of print, you’re usually thinking in terms of price, quantity, and turnaround time. From single-page handouts to the largest production print billboards, there’s a good chance that security isn’t at the top of your mind when you hit print or send that email. As we’ve discovered this week, however, maybe it should be.
Recently, researchers discovered a Windows vulnerability called “Print Nightmare” that exploits the print spooler service in every Windows system. For those that don‘t know, the spooler is a Windows system component that does its job by holding on to documents and other computer files until the printer is ready to accept them for printing.
Existing in all versions of Windows, the vulnerability allows attackers to run code that would enable them to install programs, view and change data, or create new accounts. Microsoft has stated that, while severe, this vulnerability is less dangerous than the zero-day Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities. That’s because exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to be a previously authenticated user already on the corporate network.
For business owners, this is an important reminder to regularly inspect your security. Whether it’s through regular security assessments, dark web monitoring, or hiring a managed IT service provider, you need to take a holistic view of your entire environment through the lens of security. As any penetration test will tell you, danger often lurks where you least expect it.
