CVE-2003-1603 in Healthcare Discovery VH
Summary
by MITRE
GE Healthcare Discovery VH has a default password of (1) interfile for the ftpclient user of the Interfile server or (2) "2" for the LOCAL user of the FTP server for the Codonics printer, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1603 affects GE Healthcare Discovery VH medical imaging systems, specifically targeting the Interfile server and Codonics printer components. This weakness represents a fundamental security flaw in the device's authentication mechanism, where default credentials are hardcoded into the system configuration. The vulnerability exists in the Interfile server component where the default password is set to "interfile" for the ftpclient user account, and in the Codonics printer where the default password is "2" for the LOCAL user account. These default credentials are typically left unchanged by administrators during deployment, creating persistent security risks that can be exploited by unauthorized users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from poor security practices in embedded medical device design, where manufacturers fail to enforce strong authentication mechanisms during the initial setup process. This flaw falls under the category of weak default credentials as defined by CWE-798, which is a well-documented weakness in software security. The vulnerability allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical medical imaging systems without requiring any specialized tools or complex exploitation techniques. The attack vectors are particularly concerning as they can be executed through simple network reconnaissance followed by credential brute force or direct authentication attempts using the known default passwords. This type of vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK framework as Credential Access - Default Credentials, where adversaries leverage known default usernames and passwords to establish initial access to systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-1603 is significant within healthcare environments, where medical imaging systems contain sensitive patient data and are critical for diagnostic procedures. Unauthorized access to these systems could potentially lead to data breaches, manipulation of medical images, disruption of healthcare services, or even compromise patient safety if imaging data is altered. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that the consequences could range from data exposure to complete system compromise, depending on the network architecture and additional vulnerabilities present. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects medical devices that may be deployed in isolated networks but still require remote access for maintenance or updates. The default passwords provide a persistent backdoor that remains active throughout the device's operational lifetime unless manually changed by system administrators.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate credential changes during initial deployment and regular security audits of medical device configurations. Organizations must implement strict policies requiring default credentials to be changed upon device installation and maintain comprehensive inventories of all connected medical devices. Network segmentation should be employed to isolate critical medical imaging systems from general network traffic, reducing the attack surface for credential-based attacks. Security monitoring should include detection of unauthorized authentication attempts and regular vulnerability scanning of medical device networks. Additionally, device vendors should be encouraged to implement stronger authentication mechanisms, including mandatory password changes during setup processes and the elimination of default credentials in production systems. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of security by design principles in medical device development, where the absence of proper authentication controls can create persistent security risks that compromise patient data integrity and healthcare system security.