Hewlett-Packard [ HPQ 22.40  -0.565 (-2.46%) ] has refuted what it called "sensational and inaccurate reporting" suggesting hackers could use a newly discovered security vulnerability to spark a fire in some HP LaserJet printers.

Even the Columbia University researchers who discovered the security flaw said today they were not able to set a printer on fire.

The researchers do believe the vulnerability could potentially be used to disable printers and steal personal information.

HP acknowledges a security problem, but says no customers have reported unauthorized access to its printers.  The company is working to close the hole.

The Columbia researchers found HP's printers contain a flaw that can allow hackers to remotely take control of the devices.

"Any modern printer has a computer inside of it. That computer runs software which is as vulnerable as the computer inside a PC. We found a way to completely re-write the printer's software to do bad things. We were trying to inject security to prevent it from being attacked when we found this major flaw," says Columbia professor Salvatore Stolfo, the researchers' director.

A report on MSNBC.com suggested the flaw could be used to give a printer "instructions so frantic that it could eventually catch fire."

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