CVE-2013-2808 in Xper Information Management Physiomonitoring 5
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Xper in Philips Xper Information Management Physiomonitoring 5 components, Xper Information Management Vascular Monitoring 5 components, and Xper Information Management servers and workstations for Flex Cardio products before XperConnect 1.5.4.053 SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTTP request to the Connect broker on TCP port 6000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2808 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting Philips Xper medical monitoring systems across multiple product lines including Physiomonitoring 5 and Vascular Monitoring 5 components. This flaw exists within the Xper Information Management software framework that governs connectivity and data handling for Flex Cardio products, creating a significant security risk for healthcare environments that rely on these systems for patient monitoring and data management. The vulnerability specifically impacts servers and workstations running the affected software versions prior to XperConnect 1.5.4.053 SP2, making it particularly concerning for organizations maintaining legacy medical equipment in clinical settings where system reliability and security are paramount.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the Connect broker component that operates on TCP port 6000, which serves as the primary communication interface for the Xper system. When a remote attacker crafts a specially malformed HTTP request and submits it to this port, the system fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before processing it within heap memory structures. This lack of proper memory management creates an exploitable condition where the malicious input can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite critical program pointers, function return addresses, or other control data. The heap-based nature of the overflow indicates that the vulnerability occurs in dynamically allocated memory regions, making exploitation more complex but also more potentially devastating as it can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the running service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and availability of critical medical monitoring systems. Healthcare facilities utilizing affected Philips Xper systems face potential risks including unauthorized access to patient monitoring data, disruption of critical care monitoring services, and possible manipulation of medical device communications. The remote attack vector eliminates the need for physical access to the systems, making it particularly dangerous for environments where medical devices are connected to hospital networks and potentially exposed to external threats. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code remotely without requiring physical presence or specialized equipment. The potential for exploitation could lead to data breaches involving sensitive patient information, system downtime during critical care situations, and possible compromise of the broader hospital network infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate affected systems from general network access, applying the vendor-provided security patches for XperConnect 1.5.4.053 SP2, and implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious traffic patterns on TCP port 6000. Additional protective measures should include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing strict access controls for the affected systems, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially vulnerable components within the medical device ecosystem. The remediation process must be carefully coordinated with clinical staff to minimize disruption to patient care while ensuring proper security hardening. Security teams should also monitor for any indicators of compromise in their network logs and consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify patterns associated with this vulnerability type. Regular security assessments and patch management procedures should be strengthened to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other medical device components within the organization's infrastructure.