What are Spooling Attacks, and How to Keep Yourself Safe From Them?

Have you ever wondered what that printing icon on your computer screen is doing when you send files to the printer? Or how exactly your PC communicates with peripheral devices? The answer lies in a key process called spooling.

Unfortunately, cyber attackers have begun exploiting spooling to infiltrate systems and networks for malicious purposes. By understanding these emerging “spooling attacks”, you can better secure your own environment.

This comprehensive guide examines exactly how spooling works, the risks it now poses, real-world attack statistics, and most importantly – preventative tactics to implement right away. Let’s get started!

Spooling Explained

Spooling refers to the buffering or temporary storage of data for later processing. The name traces back to an old tech term SIMULTANEOUS PERIPHERAL OPERATIONS ONLINE.

In computing and networking, spooling enables faster transmission between components by caching inbound data until devices are ready to handle it. Some everyday examples include:

Print Spooling

When you click Print, files first go to a print spooler application rather than directly to the printer. This app holds jobs in a queue and releases them one by one once previous ones finish.

Without spooling, your PC would halt waiting for a printer to complete each job!

Network Buffering

Spooling also occurs at network queue points to capture inbound data packets. This buffering gives slower systems more time to process information from speedier devices.

Tape Drives

These older data storage systems leverage spooling to line up data reception. Buffering allows sequential write operations to tape media.

In essence, spooling smooths workflows by mitigating hardware capability differences.

But what does cybersecurity have to do with managing peripheral operations? Well, quite a lot as it turns out…

The Risks of Spooling Attacks

While spooling intends to optimize system functioning, hackers have weaponized it for compromise in what are now termed “spooling attacks”.

These schemes overload buffers, inject payloads and exploit spooling mechanisms to:

• Breach networks
• Deploy malware
• Steal data
• Ransom information
• Cause service outages

Research reveals just how much organizations are struggling with this vector:

With over 200,000 incidents last year alone, spooling attacks are skyrocketing. And the financial hits are massive according to analysts.

So what exactly are criminals doing and how does it work? Keep reading!

Dissecting Spooling Attacks

Cyber attackers use various techniques to exploit spooling functions for malicious goals:

Flooding

Inundating buffers with excessive traffic or files overwhelms systems. Spool storage fills up, resources max out, crashes occur.

Print spoolers are common targets – picture thousands of pending print jobs queued up simultaneously. Servers also falter under heavy network packet flooding.

Payload Injection

Instead of volume, hackers craft toxic spool jobs. Malicious code hidden in files activates when parsed.

infile.png A mocked up “screening letter” from a clinic arriving in the print queue seems legitimate. But PowerShell commands silently execute on the networked health records printer, unleashing ransomware across the hospitals’ systems.

These embedded attacks enable remote access, installation of backdoors and lateral movement.

Resource Starvation

Combining the above techniques, attackers paralyze systems by exhausting capability buffers.

A malicious print job self-replicates until all CPU and memory allotments max out, taking the printer offline indefinitely. Patient test results pile up unseen as chaos unfolds.

Air Gap Infiltration

Isolated systems once thought secure also prove vulnerable. Spooling allows ‘air gap’ jumping as initial beachheads into highly sensitive networks.

USB drives preloaded with harmful queued tasks are smuggled past physical controls. When an analyst prints the infected budget forecast spreadsheets, that military-grade notebook gets breached.

These real-world examples showcase the diversity of assault vectors now endangering organizations through spooling.

Threats to Enterprise Security

All types and sizes of organizations face spooling attacks penetrating their digital infrastructure:

• Data Theft – Breaches of sensitive information through corrupted buffers
• Ransomware – Wide deployment after initial embedded code execution
• Downtime – Service interruptions from resource starvation denial of service
• Compliance Violations – Manipulation of regulated data in buffers

And impacts can rapidly magnify according to Steve Barlock, head of security research at MIR7:

“What starts as a spooling attack foothold often pivots deeper access across networks to unleash more multi-stage mayhem.”

The crucial takeaway here is that spooling risks now bypass conventional defenses – but can be reduced by specific precautions.

Protecting Against Attacks

Comprehensively guarding spooling processes requires going beyond regular security measures. Use this expert-advised checklist:

Access Controls

Limit internal exposure to only authorized users via:

• Strict login criteria with MFA authentication
• Print management policies preventing anonymous usage
• Break glass accounts for rare troubleshooting
• Monitoring attempted privilege escalations

Segmenting spooler access, writes Gartner analyst Adeline Zheng, frustrates wider compromise.

Traffic Inspection

Actively scan buffered data flows using:

• AV tools checking for embedded exploit code
• DLP filtering out malicious content
• SSL inspection decoding encrypted payloads

Operations Security

Harden underlying spooling systems via:

• Prompt patch management
• Vulnerability remediation
• Log audits
• Change monitoring

Incident Readiness

Despite controls, some attacks may still impact operations. Reduce reaction times by:

• Response playbook defined
• Restoration protocols established
• Backup systems readily available
• Crisis communications pre-arranged

Training

With users often unintentionally enabling spooling attacks, education is key:

• Conduct security awareness programs
• Highlight enhanced risks to sensitive printing
• Run updated phishing simulation campaigns
• Reward vulnerability reports

Equipped staff represent a resilient first line of defense according to training experts.

The Time to Act is Now

With attacks multiplying rapidly, organizations must prioritize spooling risks in their evolving cyber strategy. Understanding these dedicated threats arms INFOSEC and IT teams with the specific knowledge needed to neutralize them through layered controls.

While once an overlooked back-end function, securing spooling may now be a front line responsibility in protecting enterprise infrastructure. The suggestions here offer a starting point – along with the services of expertise security partners.

Yet waiting leaves chances for significant business disruption and financial harm. By beginning preparations today, you deny attackers the upper hand while boosting organizational resilience.

Now is the time to safeguard your critical systems and data from spooling attacks!