Any connected device can serve as a potential gateway for cyberattacks. While organisations are increasingly aware of the need to secure endpoints such as laptops, servers, and mobile devices, printers are often treated as low-priority assets. This complacency creates a significant and long-standing vulnerability in many corporate networks.

Modern multifunction printers (MFPs) are no longer simple output devices; they are fully networked computing systems with storage, operating systems, and connectivity features that rival other IT assets. Yet, due to multiyear refresh cycles, limited patch management, and inadequate integration into security policies, they often remain exposed. This lack of attention has been consistently highlighted by industry research, including HP’s Securing the Print Estate: A Proactive Lifecycle Approach to Cyber Resilience report, which warns that failing to implement timely firmware updates leaves organisations open to data exfiltration, device hijacking, and network compromise.

Ignoring printer security is no longer a benign oversight but rather a strategic gap that cybercriminals have learned to exploit.

Why printers are a security risk, and how they can be hacked

Today’s printers operate far beyond their original purpose of producing documents. They store sensitive information, process jobs over corporate networks, and integrate with cloud services. This expanded functionality makes them viable targets for threat actors.

If compromised, a printer can become a data-harvesting node, capturing confidential information for extortion or sale. Even more concerning, it can serve as a stealthy entry point into a network, enabling attackers to launch further intrusions, escalate privileges, or distribute malware. In environments where firmware updates are rare or absent, these vulnerabilities can persist for years.

Evidence of the growing threat is clear. According to one survey, the proportion of organisations reporting data losses from insecure printers increased from 61% in 2023 to 67% in 2024. Notable incidents illustrate this risk:

• February 2025: Researchers disclosed exploitable vulnerabilities in a widely used Xerox midrange business printer, enabling attackers to gain full access to an organisation’s Windows environment.
• June 2025: A pass-back flaw in a particular Konica Minolta Printer allowed attackers to capture Active Directory credentials, facilitating lateral movement to compromise critical Windows servers and file systems.

With such cases on the record, it is evident that printers remain firmly on the radar of cyber adversaries and will continue to be targeted in the foreseeable future.

How printer life cycles expand the attack surface

Printer security issues are not solely a matter of patching. Weaknesses can emerge at multiple stages of the hardware lifecycle. The HP report underscores a recurring breakdown in coordination between procurement and security teams. Alarmingly, security staff are only consulted on security standards for printer purchases 38% of the time. Even when manufacturers make security claims, almost half of procurement teams fail to verify them, and 55% do not forward vendor responses to the security team for review.

This lack of oversight leaves significant blind spots. From the moment a printer arrives, it can be difficult to confirm whether it has been tampered with in the factory or during transit. Once deployed, many organisations lack the visibility to detect unauthorised hardware modifications or security events at the device level.

End-of-life handling is another weak link. Without proper data sanitisation, retired printers may still contain sensitive information on internal storage. This risk often delays or prevents reuse, resale, or recycling, resulting in unused but still-networked devices remaining in the environment – ripe for exploitation.

Strengthening printer security

Securing printers requires a holistic, lifecycle-based approach that spans procurement, deployment, operation, and decommissioning. Recommended practices include:

• Conduct periodic security assessments – Incorporating printers into regular pen test services ensures vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before they can be exploited.
• Integrate security into procurement – Ensure IT, security, and procurement teams collaborate to define security requirements for all new printer purchases.
• Validate vendor security claims – Require manufacturers to provide documented security certifications for products and supply chain processes.
• Apply firmware updates promptly – Regular patching reduces exposure to known vulnerabilities.
• Implement policy-based configuration management – Use security tools to enforce standardised, compliant printer configurations across the fleet.
• Select devices with continuous threat monitoring – Printers should detect and mitigate zero-day threats, isolate malicious activity, and support recovery from firmware-level attacks.
• Ensure secure data erasure – Choose devices that can perform secure erasure of hardware, firmware, and stored data to support safe reuse or recycling.

Printers should never be directly accessible from the public internet. Limiting exposure through network segmentation, firewall rules, and strict access controls significantly reduces the risk of compromise.

The risks of ignoring printer security

Failing to address printer security can expose organisations to multiple high-impact threats:

1. Data breaches

Attackers can intercept or exfiltrate sensitive documents either in transit or from storage on the device. Since many MFPs store unencrypted print jobs and logs, a compromise can yield substantial volumes of confidential information. Research has shown that attackers can silently read queued jobs, harvest metadata, and collect documents without triggering alerts.

2. Network compromise 

Because printers share the same network as critical systems, a compromised device can serve as a pivot point. Exploitable services, outdated firmware, or malicious print jobs can give adversaries an initial foothold. With gaps in procurement, patching, and monitoring, printers can be used to scan the network, move laterally, and escalate privileges into high-value systems.

3. Malware insertion

Printers are prime targets for firmware-level attacks. Malicious firmware can persist through reboots, capture or alter print jobs, and serve as a covert communication node for attackers. Such modifications are extremely difficult to detect with standard endpoint tools and can facilitate broader attacks.

4. Compliance violations

Printers routinely handle regulated data under frameworks such as GDPR, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA. Insecure print workflows or improper device disposal can result in breaches that trigger mandatory disclosures, regulatory investigations, and fines. Compliance audits frequently overlook printers, leaving organisations exposed to unanticipated liabilities.

Conclusion

Printers represent an often-overlooked segment of the attack surface, one that combines long service lifespans, powerful capabilities, and frequently inadequate security oversight. By embedding security into every stage of the printer lifecycle and treating these devices as critical IT assets, organisations can close a gap that attackers have been exploiting for years. Proactive measures not only prevent costly breaches but also strengthen overall resilience in an era where every endpoint matters.

Every breach avoided is a win for your business. Group8 delivers precision-tailored security strategies that evolve with the threat landscape. Whether you need expert guidance or hands-on protection, we’re ready to act. Contact hello@group8.co today because, in cybersecurity, timing is everything.