Assessment of Bambu's new Authentication Firmware

[drakko]

I believe the following analysis on the impact and consequences of Bambu’s newly adopted Authentication Firmware, on its existing (and future) X1C (and by extrapolation the P1 and A1) users, needs a distinct topic on its own. Due to the limitations imposed by the forum on the number of minimum and maximum characters in a post, I had to split this post into several (per sections) to allow for adequate reading.

Feel free to go over the entire analysis (link provided at the end), review, assess and decide by yourselves if you agree with it, read first, before reacting or posting any comments.

PART 1

Bambu Lab Authorization Control System

Contents

• 1How This Started

• 1.1Controversies Regarding Firmware Updates

• 1.1.1Potential for Remote Disabling of Printers

• 1.1.2Debate Over “Bricking” Terminology

• 1.1.3Community Strategies to Deal with Risks

• 1.2Bambu Lab’s Justification and Rebuttal

• 1.3Issues with LAN Mode Requiring Authorization

• 1.3.1Precedents and Comparisons

• 1.4Implementation Timeline and Requirements

• 1.5Impact on Third-Party Integration and User Choice

• 1.5.1Changes to Third-Party Access

• 1.5.2Reduced Home Automation Capabilities

• 1.5.3Permanent Nature of the Update

• 1.6Impact on Functionality

• 1.7Communication with Panda Touch Developers

• 1.8Communication with OrcaSlicer Developers

• 1.8.1Pre-Announcement Contact

• 1.8.2How Community Viewed These Actions

• 1.9Community-Driven Workarounds and Technical Alternatives

• 1.9.1Custom Firmware Development

• 1.10Community Tools and Scripts

• 1.10.1Re-engineering Printer Control Electronics

• 1.10.2Advocacy for Open Ecosystem Support

• 1.11Bambu Corporate Strategy vs Maker Community Values

• 1.11.1Conflict with Open Source and Maker Values

• 1.11.2Impact on Professional Users and Print Farms

• 1.11.3Privacy & Data Collection Concerns

• 1.12Customer Reactions

• 1.13Comparisons to Similar Practices by Other Companies

• 1.13.1Printer DRM and Locked Ecosystems

• 1.13.2Tesla and Automotive Lock-Ins

• 1.13.3Relevance to Mission & Purpose of Clinton the CAT

• 2 Understanding the Impact for Non-3D Printing Experts

• 2.1What is a 3D Printer & How is it Used?

• 2.2What Has Changed?

• 2.3Why is This a Problem?

• 2.4The Bigger Picture

• 2.5References

How This Started

On 2025-01-16, the 3D printer manufacturer Bambu Lab announced that future firmware for their 3D printers would introduce an authorization and authentication protection mechanism for their connection and control, in the name of security. Bambu has stated the following:

“This change is mitigating any risk of remote hacks or printer exposure issues that have happened in the past and also lower the risk of abnormal traffic or attacks.” [1][2]

Controversies Regarding Firmware Updates

[![bambu terms stating print jobs may not function properly if update is not performed to new firmware which is highly limiting.

Bambu terms regarding printer functionality & potential for disrupted print jobs if users do not update to a new firmware that radically restricts the autonomy of the owner of the printer

Potential for Remote Disabling of Printers

A significant concern raised by the community revolves around the wording in Bambu Lab’s Terms of Service & firmware update announcements. Critics & users argue that the phrasing leaves open the possibility for the manufacturer to remotely disable printers that are not updated to the latest firmware. Specifically, Bambu Lab’s documentation states that printers may block “new print jobs” if updates are not applied, which some users interpret as a potential pathway for forced obsolescence.

Defenders of Bambu Lab point out that offline modes such as SD card printing & LAN-only setups would remain functional, others point out that the Terms of Service do not explicitly limit this restriction to cloud-based printing. This ambiguity has led to speculation that Bambu Lab could enforce broader limitations, effectively rendering printers inoperable for users who choose not to update.

Debate Over “Bricking” Terminology

The debate has also extended to the definition of “bricking.” Some community members assert that if a printer is unable to accept new print jobs without an update, it effectively becomes non-functional and qualifies as being “bricked.” Others counter that as long as certain offline functionalities remain—such as SD card printing—the term does not accurately apply.

Community Strategies to Deal with Risks

Users have discussed strategies to avoid possible disruptions, including:

• Operating printers exclusively in offline modes.

• Utilizing LAN connections or VPN setups, yet LAN mode requires authorization now.

• Exploring alternative firmware or third-party scripts to restore full functionality.

Bambu Lab’s Justification and Rebuttal

Bambu Lab has stated that the authorization system is in place in order to protect against “remote hacks,” “printer exposure,” and “abnormal traffic or attacks.” However, there are several ways to mitigate these risks without the loss of user control that their system causes:

• The “remote hacks” that were cited as an example in the article seem to be a direct result of the 3D printer vendor not responding properly to a reported security vulnerability in their product[7]. Therefore, in order to get attention, the researcher decided to infect machines and display a harmless message to spread publicity. Properly responding to security vulnerabilities, working to patch them quickly, and working with the security community (who would be more than happy to help secure products) would be some ways to prevent this.

• In the article cited about printer exposure, it was done largely due to misconfiguration on the part of users. Printer exposure can be mitigated by offering more convenient ways to securely expose printers to the internet, so users are not tempted to allow unauthenticated access over the network.

• The “abnormal traffic” can be mitigated by steps Bambu has already put in place, as detailed in their own article on the matter.

The system that Bambu has chosen to implement is overly restrictive and unnecessary, and does more harm than good, as detailed in the rest of this article.

Issues with LAN Mode Requiring Authorization

Before recent firmware updates, Bambu Lab printers had the ability to be controlled over LAN without requiring cloud services or authentication with manufacturer. This allowed users to integrate their printers into private networks & maintain full control without having to rely on the manufacturer’s server. However, the new authorization system mandates that even LAN-based operations go through an authentication process using Bambu Connect.

This change has drawn criticism for many good reasons:

• Privacy Concerns: Requiring authentication for LAN mode raises concerns about data being unnecessarily exposed to Bambu Lab’s servers, even for local-only operations.

• Loss of Offline Independence: Before, users could have entirely offline setups. The requirement for authentication removes this option unless users revert to older firmware versions, which Bambu does not allow people to do once they have updated.

• Increased Complexity: The added authentication layer complicates workflows for users who built custom setups or relied on third-party integrations for LAN control.

Precedents and Comparisons

Critics have likened this potential functionality to similar cases in other industries where manufacturers remotely restrict product features. Notable examples include HP’s printer firmware updates that rendered third-party ink cartridges unusable and Tesla’s software locks on second-hand vehicles. These parallels suggest a broader trend of manufacturers leveraging software to control hardware capabilities post-purchase.

Implementation Timeline and Requirements

The authorization system will be rolled out in phases, starting with the X1 series printers. A beta firmware (version 01.08.03.00) was released on January 17th, 2025, with the full release scheduled for January 23rd, 2025. The P & A series printers will get similar updates at an unspecified future date.

To use printers with the new authorization system, users must update multiple pieces of software:

• Bambu Studio must be updated to version 01.10.02.64 or higher

• Bambu Handy mobile app must be updated to version 2.17.0 or higher

• The new Bambu Connect application must be installed for using third-party slicers

These software updates are mandatory for users who update their firmware - failing to update all components simultaneously will result in certain printer controls becoming unusable. Users who choose to maintain third-party software compatibility can continue using older firmware versions, though this will not be an option for new printers which will ship with the authorization system pre-installed.

Bambu Lab states these coordinated updates are necessary because the new authorization system fundamentally changes how the printer validates & accepts commands. The older versions of Bambu Studio & Bambu Handy lack the authentication mechanisms required to interact with printers running the new firmware. The Bambu Connect application was created specifically to provide a controlled interface for third-party software, replacing the previous direct access through network plugins.

Impact on Third-Party Integration and User Choice

Changes to Third-Party Access

The new authorization system replaces direct network API access with a more limited URL-based interface through Bambu Connect. Third-party software can only interact with the printer by sending specific URL commands to Bambu Connect. The interface requires three parameters:

• path: The absolute file system path to the 3MF file (e.g., /tmp/cube.gcode.3mf)

• name: The name of the file (e.g., Cube)

• version: A fixed value of 1.0.0 for compatibility

A complete command must be formatted as:

bambu-connect://import-file?path=%2Ftmp%2Fcube.gcode.3mf&name=Cube&version=1.0.0

This interface only allows basic file transfer and print initiation - all other printer control functions previously available to third-party software are now exclusive to Bambu’s own applications. The path and name parameters must be URL-encoded using encodeURIComponent or equivalent functions.

Reduced Home Automation Capabilities

While basic status monitoring remains available (e.g., print progress updates in Home Assistant), the new firmware removes the ability for home automation systems to control printer functions. Users can no longer:

• Start or stop prints remotely via Home Assistant or BTT Panda Touch or other third party accessories and/or software interfaces

• Control printer temperatures or cooling

• Automate printer behaviors based on sensor data or events

• Access camera feeds through third-party applications

Permanent Nature of the Update

Once a printer is updated to the new firmware, users cannot revert to previous versions that allowed fuller third-party integration. This creates a one-way transition that permanently removes capabilities users had when purchasing their printer. While Bambu Lab presents this as optional for existing users, all new printers will ship with the restricted firmware pre-installed, eliminating user choice entirely.

The manufacturer states this change is required for security, but community members note that many of the security vulnerabilities being addressed stem from Bambu’s own cloud-centric design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control. The update forces users into Bambu’s ecosystem of applications & cloud services, regardless of their preferences or needs for local network automation.

This is a significant post-purchase reduction in functionality for existing owners who bought their printers with the understanding they could use third-party software & home automation tools. The inability to revert these changes, combined with the mandatory nature of the update for new printers, demonstrates how manufacturers can use software updates to unilaterally modify the capabilities of hardware products after purchase.

For users that would want to use a third-party slicer, Bambu would require those users to download and install Bambu Connect in order to send gcode wirelessly over LAN or over the cloud. While Bambu claims that they were in contact with SoftFever, the developer of OrcaSlicer, as of writing, SoftFever still does not have any keys for Bambu Connect.

Impact on Functionality

While some functionality remains unauthenticated like in previous firmware versions (sending status information from the printer over the network, starting a print job using SD cards), the most important features now require authentication through a new closed-source client called Bambu Connect. These restricted features include:

• Initializing prints via LAN or cloud mode

• Remote video access to monitor prints

• Controlling motion system, temperature, fans

• AMS settings and calibrations

• Home automation integration beyond basic status monitoring

Previously, third-party software such as OrcaSlicer could interact with Bambu Lab printers via the open-source Bambu Studio and proprietary network plug-ins. While Bambu Connect provides a limited URL-based API to initiate prints, most functionality previously openly available is now restricted to Bambu’s ecosystem.

Previously, third-party accessories such as Panda Touch would be able to give users the ability to control their printers with a standalone device. Panda Touch was especially popular amongst P series printer owners since P series printers contain a monochromatic screen with a D pad by default for printer control whereas Panda Touch is a full-color touch screen that had a small battery so that way users could reposition and detach their Panda Touch off their printers if needed. Users would be able to queue up jobs, jog printer motors, and connect to multiple printers at once in order to monitor print jobs. According to Big Tree Tech (BTT), the manufacturer of the Panda Touch, they urge users of Panda Touch to not update firmware any further since doing so would foreseeably permanently break compatibility with users’ printers and their Panda Touch.
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