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Introduction: A Flaw That Can’t Be Fixed
In a major security revelation, hundreds of Brother printer models have been found to suffer from a critical vulnerability that allows attackers to exploit factory-set administrator passwords. Discovered by cybersecurity firm Rapid7 and disclosed in late June 2025, the flaw — now tracked as CVE-2024-51978 — cannot be patched on existing devices, making it especially dangerous for individuals and businesses alike. What makes this vulnerability alarming is how easily an attacker, armed with just your printer’s serial number, can compromise your device’s admin functions.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the broader risks surrounding IoT and office hardware, especially when manufacturers rely on predictable default credentials. Here’s everything you need to know, what’s at risk, and how you can protect your devices right now.
the Original Report
A massive security flaw has been uncovered in over 689 Brother printer models, with additional vulnerabilities affecting devices from Fujifilm, Toshiba Tec, Ricoh, and Konica Minolta. These eight discovered vulnerabilities were initially identified in May by Rapid7 and publicly disclosed in June 2025. While seven of the flaws can be resolved via firmware updates, one stands out for its permanence: CVE-2024-51978, which allows attackers to derive the device’s default administrator password using its serial number — a method that cannot be patched on existing devices.
The vulnerability stems from
The flaw affects a total of 748 devices:
689 from Brother
46 from Fujifilm Business Innovation
5 from Ricoh
2 from Toshiba Tec
6 from Konica Minolta
Not all vulnerabilities affect every model. For example, only 695 devices are exposed to the default-password issue, and around 208 models are vulnerable to remote crashing via Denial-of-Service flaws (CVE-2024-51982 and CVE-2024-51983).
While Brother has released patches to fix seven of the eight vulnerabilities, CVE-2024-51978 remains unresolved for current users. To mitigate risk, Brother advises all users to manually change their default admin passwords via the Web-Based Management interface. The company is also revising its manufacturing processes to issue randomized default passwords for future models.
Security experts emphasize this incident as a strong reminder to always change factory-set passwords on any new connected device, including printers.
What Undercode Say:
This vulnerability highlights a deep-seated issue in consumer and enterprise hardware design: reliance on weak or predictable authentication schemes at the manufacturing level. Brother’s case is particularly troubling because the root of the problem — the predictable password generation algorithm — was baked into the design, affecting almost 700 models and leaving users with no patchable recourse.
From a security perspective, CVE-2024-51978 represents a perfect storm:
Low barrier to entry for attackers: All that’s needed is the device’s serial number, which is often visible on the printer or available via network scans.
No patch possible: Since the vulnerability lies in the logic of how the password is generated, there’s no way to update it remotely for existing devices.
Wide scope: Nearly 700 models impacted means the attack surface spans across households, small businesses, and corporate offices globally.
What’s more alarming is the chain reaction this flaw can initiate. If an attacker leverages CVE-2024-51977 to extract serial numbers remotely, they can use CVE-2024-51978 to gain admin access, and then possibly use CVE-2024-51979 or CVE-2024-51984 to trigger deeper system compromises. In essence, this single flaw becomes a gateway for more dangerous exploits.
The broader implications speak to a recurring cybersecurity negligence in IoT and embedded systems:
Manufacturers still prioritize convenience over security, often shipping devices with known-default or weak passwords.
Most users don’t change factory passwords, especially on “non-critical” devices like printers.
Firmware security practices — including obfuscating serial/password logic — are still not standard in the industry.
The fact that Brother is now updating its production line to use non-predictable default credentials is a necessary step — but it’s a reaction, not a proactive strategy. This should have been anticipated years ago, especially given the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks on IoT ecosystems.
Ultimately, while firmware patches are helpful for seven of the vulnerabilities, the responsibility still falls heavily on the user to secure their device against CVE-2024-51978. Brother and its peers need to revisit their design philosophies — not just fix bugs, but redesign systems to minimize future exposure.
🔍 Fact Checker Results
✅ CVE-2024-51978 has been officially registered and scored 9.8 on the CVSS scale, confirming “Critical” status.
✅ Rapid7 disclosed the vulnerability and conducted a detailed technical analysis, as cited.
✅ Brother acknowledged the flaw and has issued a manual workaround (change the password), with firmware fixes available for other issues.
📊 Prediction
In the next 12 months, we can expect:
A spike in IoT-focused attacks targeting small businesses through printer infrastructure.
An industry-wide move toward randomized default credentials, similar to what we saw in consumer routers post-Mirai botnet.
Regulatory bodies may step in, especially in the EU, mandating stronger baseline security for networked devices like printers.
This case could set a new precedent — not just for patching, but for demanding accountability in product design from the ground up.
References:
Reported By: www.zdnet.com
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