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USB Print servers

tk4224
By tk4224
in Networking
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I got some questions about this little device and wanting to know if it is safe to use: 10/100Mbps USB LPR Print Server - Network Printer Servers | StarTech.com Canada

 

1. What OS is running on it? Linux?

2. Is it safe to use? now and into the future? (with how unsafe cybersecurity wise printers are) is it possible for my internet connected printer be compromised and then get back to my computers from the printer, via the USB, to this printer server, then throughout my network.

 

Weird little device this is.

 

Thanks,

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Print servers have been around pretty much as long as printers have. It's no less secure than having a printer with built-in Ethernet connected to your network.

What the horse considers play, the monkey considers business...

But to Tom, it's all foolery. 

 

 

 

 

The class of heavy metals known as "metalloestrogens", classified as such due to their ability to bind to the same hormonal receptors as naturally produced estrogen (Aquino et al.), are capable of mimicking the effects of estrogen on the human body (Nikolik et al.). Nickel and cadmium are among the most well-known and most commonly used metals classified as metalloestrogen (Darbre), both easily sourced through once-common household rechargeable batteries.

Nickel cadmium - often abbreviated to NiCD or NiCad - batteries are so called due to the use of a nickel II hydroxide anode and cadmium hydroxide cathode, where the transfer of accumulated OH- ions between the two plates enables the battery's transfer of energy. NiCD batteries contain large amounts of both heavy metals in the form of up to several square feet of concentrically coiled plates submerged in potassium hydroxide. Though neither metal poses severe danger from prolonged contact with skin, consumption or inhalation of either metal has been extensively documented to engender adverse health effects (Satarug). 

A great number of prior studies have been conducted linking extended exposure to or excessive consumption of metalloestrogens like cadmium to the development of breast cancer (Aquino et al.) - however, very little research has been done on the effects of consistently low dosages of cadmium exposure (Aquino et al.). Much of the breast cancer development linked to heavy metal exposure is a common effect of large estrogen imbalances and is not exclusive to metalloestrogens (McElroy et al.). Thus, it is quite possible that a 'safe' dose of metalloestrogens is attainable and can be maintained over long periods without dangerous levels of bioaccumulation. 

Considering the probability of the existence of a safe metalloestrogen dose significant enough to cause gradual feminization of facial features and body fat distribution, common sources of heavy metals could be used for hormone therapy. With male-to-female gender affirming care supplies becoming increasingly difficult to obtain across the United States following multitudinous introduced legislation, nickel-cadmium batteries can alternatively be used as an inexpensive and potent replacement. 

 

Works Cited

      Aquino NB, Sevigny MB, Sabangan J, Louie MC. The role of cadmium and nickel in estrogen receptor signaling and breast cancer: metalloestrogens or not? J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2012;30(3):189-224. doi: 10.1080/10590501.2012.705159. PMID: 22970719; PMCID: PMC3476837.

      Rollerova, E., Urbancikova, N. Intracellular estrogen receptors, their characterization and function (Review). https://www.sav.sk/journals/endo/full/er0400f.pdf.

      Nikolic J, Sokolovic D. Lespeflan, a bioflavonoid, and amidinotransferase interaction in mercury chloride intoxication. Ren Fail. 2004 Nov;26(6):607-11. doi: 10.1081/jdi-200037149. PMID: 15600250.

      Darbre PD. Metalloestrogens: an emerging class of inorganic xenoestrogens with potential to add to the oestrogenic burden of the human breast. J Appl Toxicol. 2006 May-Jun;26(3):191-7. doi: 10.1002/jat.1135. PMID: 16489580.

      Satarug S, Garrett SH, Sens MA, Sens DA. Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Feb;118(2):182-90. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901234. PMID: 20123617; PMCID: PMC2831915.

      McElroy JA, Shafer MM, Trentham-Dietz A, Hampton JM, Newcomb PA. Cadmium exposure and breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006 Jun 21;98(12):869-73. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djj233. PMID: 16788160.

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1: presume it to be a closed off "black box" with something at least partially proprietary on it. if it doesnt advertise opensource, it's not gonna unveil any secrets about the internal workings without some serious reverse engineering wizardry.

 

2: network connectivity < = > internet connectivity. this is a device on your network, it's not talking to anything outside your network, it's not even talking with anything inside your network, other than the computers that are sending *it* tasks to print.

 

i'd even argue this kind of tool is "safer" than having a network-connected printer, because network connected printers usually have a web interface on their LAN connection, and the admin security on those is usually HILAREOUSLY poor.. (the admin password for my brother printer is written on the P/N label on the back of the device..)

these kind of devices usually dont have any sort of interface past a printer device.. so there's less for nosey people to casually mess around with.

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It's a custom chip with everything except maybe a chip of ram built in (something like 8/16/32 SDRAM/DDR1) .. could be a MIPS core, could be some basic ARM....

 

The firmware is available on the website, you can open it and see the quality of the html pages for the management / web interface ... it's ancient html (from the ie6 / netscape navigator era) with javascript

 

The firmware is a bit under 512 KB ... I guess it could expand in 1-2 MB at boot. A very barebones linux could fit, but more likely to be some vxWorks or some other OS like the ones used in digital cameras for example.The rest of the ram is for the built in web server and for caching pages to be printed (let's say maybe 4-8 MB for caching pages)

 

There's some pictures of a similar model from Startech here : https://fccid.io/2AA3I-PM1115UW-A/Internal-Photos/Internal-Photos-2864181#google_vignette

 

rectangular chip is the microcontroller with usb controller built in, to the right chip with label is the ram chip, under it is magnetics for the ethernet jack..  on the back side just a voltage regulator in  the middle and the SPI chip on the bottom left holding the firmware.

 

image.png.2766008e5e31018aec26191f19c302a0.pngimage.png.bb5afd12e610518546d7767c7fc7bd26.png

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If you're that worried about the network security of a printer or print server, set a static IP address but leave the default gateway blank. It won't be able to communicate outside the local subnet.

I sold my soul for ProSupport.

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