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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →CVE-2023-27350 was a critical PaperCut MF/NG flaw that let an unauthenticated attacker execute code remotely on an affected Application Server. PaperCut released fixes on March 8, 2023; exploitation was reported in mid-April. The incident shows how a routine internal service can create serious risk when its management interface is reachable and its server process has high privileges—not that internal apps are universally attacked first.
What the PaperCut zero-day was
CVE-2023-27350 was an improper-access-control vulnerability in PaperCut MF and NG. PaperCut rated it Critical, with a CVSS score of 9.8. In certain circumstances, an attacker did not need to log in to execute code remotely on an affected Application Server. PaperCut also disclosed CVE-2023-27351 in March 2023, a separate issue involving user account data; it is not the remote-code-execution flaw discussed here. PaperCut’s March 2023 security bulletin and the CISA/FBI advisory describe the vulnerabilities and response.
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How the Setup Wizard flaw led to code execution
PaperCut’s post-incident explanation centers on a session created during setup. The Setup Wizard’s final completion page was not properly guarded after setup had finished. A crafted URL could expose a session variable and allow access to the administration console, where an attacker could use built-in functionality to run code. CISA and the FBI describe improper access controls in the SetupCompleted Java class followed by access to administrator functions.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteTwo public routes described by CISA and the FBI used existing product features: print scripting to run shell commands, or User/Group Sync to carry out a living-off-the-land style attack. Their advisory cautions that other methods could be developed. These were not separate vulnerabilities; they were ways to turn administrator access into code execution.
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Why a print-management server could have a large blast radius
PaperCut may look like routine infrastructure, but the Application Server process, pc-app.exe, runs with SYSTEM privileges on Windows or root privileges on Unix-like systems, according to CISA and the FBI. Child processes inherit those privileges. A compromise of the service could therefore have consequences beyond print queues, especially if the management interface could be reached over the network.
That is the useful lesson behind the “boring internal apps” framing: assess exposure, privilege, and patch status rather than assuming a support service is harmless because it is not customer-facing. The incident does not establish that ordinary internal applications are always targeted first.
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When the flaw was disclosed and exploited
- January 10, 2023: PaperCut says it received vulnerability reports through Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative.
- March 8, 2023: PaperCut published its bulletin and released fixed versions 20.1.7, 21.2.11, and 22.0.9.
- March 14, 2023: PaperCut’s timeline says Trend Micro published additional vulnerability details.
- April 14, 2023: PaperCut identified a potentially linked suspicious-activity signature at 01:29 AEST.
- April 18, 2023: PaperCut received its first customer report of suspicious activity. The customer said security software alerted on an unpatched server.
- April 21, 2023: CISA added CVE-2023-27350 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
- May 11, 2023: CISA and the FBI published their joint advisory.
PaperCut said it had evidence that unpatched servers were being exploited in the wild; CISA and the FBI described exploitation as beginning in mid-April. PaperCut’s post-incident account relayed Microsoft Threat Intelligence attributions to Lace Tempest on April 27 and, later, to Iranian state-sponsored actors Mint Sandstorm and Mango Sandstorm on May 6. Those are Microsoft attributions as relayed by PaperCut, not a universal or independently verified account of every incident.
Which historical PaperCut versions were affected
CISA and the FBI listed these affected PaperCut MF/NG version ranges for CVE-2023-27350. PaperCut’s bulletin identified the corresponding fixed releases below. These are historical boundaries for this 2023 vulnerability; they are not a recommendation to remain on an old fixed branch.
| Affected versions | Fixed version identified by PaperCut |
|---|---|
| 8.0.0–19.2.7 | 20.1.7 |
| 20.0.0–20.1.6 | 20.1.7 |
| 21.0.0–21.2.10 | 21.2.11 |
| 22.0.0–22.0.8 | 22.0.9 |
The affected component was the Application Server. For a live deployment, use PaperCut’s current upgrade guidance and a supported release rather than stopping at one of these 2023 minimum fixed versions.
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What to do if a PaperCut server is exposed or unpatched
Upgrade first
Install a current supported PaperCut release using the vendor’s guidance. Network restrictions can reduce exposure while arranging an upgrade, but they do not replace patching.
Restrict management access if an immediate upgrade is not possible
CISA and the FBI advise blocking inbound external traffic to the web management portal. The default ports they identify are 9191 and 9192. A stricter option is to block all inbound traffic to the portal; that also stops remote management. Limit access to trusted administrative networks or addresses where feasible.
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Investigate delayed patching and suspicious activity
A successful upgrade does not prove the server was not compromised before patching. CISA and the FBI recommend that organizations that did not patch promptly assume compromise and hunt using the detections in their advisory. Evaluate indicators in the context of your environment: the advisory notes that some are ephemeral or nondeterministic.
Rebuild when compromise is suspected
CISA and the FBI advise preserving a backup of the current server, wiping and rebuilding the Application Server and/or Site Server, restoring the database from a safe backup point, and carrying out broader incident-response procedures. Coordinate containment, evidence preservation, and recovery with your incident-response team.
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How to read PaperCut’s 2026 security notices
As of October 7, 2026, PaperCut has published newer security notices about separate NG/MF vulnerabilities. Its urgent advisory, last updated September 10, 2026, reports active exploitation of other vulnerabilities and directs organizations with publicly reachable Application Servers to restrict web access to trusted IP addresses. It also says security maintenance releases 26.0.5, 25.0.13, and 24.1.10 include fixes from emergency releases and additional hardening. These are not the CVE-2023-27350 patches.
A separate PaperCut bulletin dated September 24, 2026 lists three distinct NG/MF issues, recommends 26.0.5, 25.0.13, or later, and says PaperCut has no evidence those listed issues were exploited. The 2026 notices should not be read as a renewed exploitation report for CVE-2023-27350. They also do not establish the current exploitation status of that 2023 flaw. Consult PaperCut’s latest security notices and supported-release guidance for current deployments.
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