CVE-2013-7404 in Healthcare Discovery NM 750b
Summary
by MITRE
GE Healthcare Discovery NM 750b has a password of 2getin for the insite account for (1) Telnet and (2) FTP, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors. NOTE: it is not clear whether this password is default, hardcoded, or dependent on another system or product that requires a fixed value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2017
The CVE-2013-7404 vulnerability affects GE Healthcare Discovery NM 750b medical imaging equipment, presenting a critical security weakness through the use of a predictable and well-known default password for the insite account. This device operates within healthcare environments where medical imaging systems handle sensitive patient data and are often connected to hospital networks, making such vulnerabilities particularly dangerous. The vulnerability specifically impacts both Telnet and FTP access protocols, creating multiple attack vectors for potential adversaries seeking unauthorized system access. The password "2getin" represents a weak credential that significantly undermines the security posture of the device, as it is easily discoverable through publicly available resources and common vulnerability databases.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and CWE-312, which covers the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage or transmission. The device's configuration exposes it to credential stuffing attacks, where attackers can leverage the known password across multiple systems or attempt to gain access to other network components that might share similar default credentials. The unspecified impact and attack vectors in the original description suggest that the vulnerability could potentially allow for remote code execution, data exfiltration, or system compromise, though the exact scope of damage remains unclear without additional context. The lack of clarity regarding whether this password is truly default, hardcoded, or part of a larger system configuration indicates a fundamental security design flaw in the device's authentication mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as medical imaging equipment often serves as critical infrastructure within healthcare facilities. Attackers who successfully exploit this weakness could potentially manipulate medical images, access patient records, or disrupt critical healthcare operations. The presence of both Telnet and FTP protocols increases the attack surface, as Telnet provides command-line access while FTP enables file transfer capabilities that could be exploited for data exfiltration or malware deployment. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1078, which covers valid accounts and credential access, and T1046, which involves network service scanning to identify accessible services. The device's exposure to these protocols without proper authentication hardening creates an environment where lateral movement through hospital networks becomes significantly easier.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including changing the default password to a strong, unique credential, disabling unnecessary services like Telnet and FTP where possible, and implementing network segmentation to isolate medical devices from general hospital networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper device configuration management and the necessity of conducting regular security assessments of medical equipment within healthcare environments. Additionally, implementing network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and establishing robust patch management processes for medical devices is crucial. The incident underscores the broader issue of default credentials in industrial control systems and medical devices, which represents a persistent security challenge in healthcare environments where device lifecycle management and security updates may be limited due to regulatory and operational constraints.