CVE-2010-5308 in Healthcare Optima MR360
Summary
by MITRE
GE Healthcare Optima MR360 does not require authentication for the HIPAA emergency login procedure, which allows physically proximate users to gain access via an arbitrary username in the Emergency Login screen. NOTE: this might not qualify for inclusion in CVE if unauthenticated emergency access is part of the intended security policy of the product, can be controlled by the system administrator, and is not enabled by default.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2017
The CVE-2010-5308 vulnerability affects GE Healthcare Optima MR360 medical imaging equipment and represents a critical security flaw in the system's emergency access mechanism. This vulnerability specifically targets the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant emergency login procedure, which is designed to allow authorized personnel to access patient data during emergency situations when normal authentication procedures might be unavailable. The flaw occurs because the system fails to implement proper authentication checks for the emergency login functionality, creating a significant security risk in healthcare environments where patient privacy and data protection are paramount. The vulnerability allows any physically proximate user to bypass normal authentication requirements by simply entering an arbitrary username in the emergency login screen, effectively granting unauthorized access to sensitive medical information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the design flaw in the emergency access protocol where the system only validates the presence of a username without verifying the identity of the person entering it. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and fails to implement proper access controls that should be in place even during emergency scenarios. The vulnerability operates at the application level authentication layer and affects the system's ability to maintain proper audit trails and access logging for emergency access events. From a cybersecurity perspective, this issue falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and potentially violates the security controls outlined in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act and HIPAA regulations. The vulnerability can be classified as a CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) issue, where the system does not properly authenticate users during emergency access procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe in healthcare environments where medical imaging systems contain highly sensitive patient data including personal health information, medical history, and diagnostic results. An attacker with physical proximity to the system can exploit this vulnerability to access patient records without proper authorization, potentially leading to identity theft, medical fraud, or unauthorized medical procedures. The threat actor could be anyone with physical access to the medical imaging equipment, including unauthorized staff members, visitors, or even malicious insiders who might exploit this weakness for financial gain or to cause harm. The vulnerability undermines the integrity of the medical imaging system's security posture and could result in compliance violations under HIPAA regulations, potentially leading to significant financial penalties and legal consequences for healthcare organizations. This flaw also creates a potential attack vector for more sophisticated attacks where an attacker might use this initial access to escalate privileges or move laterally within the healthcare network.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper authentication controls for emergency access procedures, ensuring that emergency logins require additional verification beyond simple username entry. System administrators should configure emergency access procedures to require multi-factor authentication or additional verification steps, such as biometric authentication or security tokens. Organizations should also implement proper monitoring and logging of emergency access events to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts. The system should be configured to disable emergency access procedures by default and require explicit administrative approval before enabling them. Security policies should be updated to ensure that emergency access procedures are only enabled in genuine emergency situations and are properly documented and audited. This vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper access control mechanisms even in emergency scenarios and aligns with the ATT&CK framework's concept of privilege escalation through weak authentication. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and physical security controls to limit access to medical imaging equipment and reduce the attack surface for such vulnerabilities.