CVE-2015-3459 in Lifecare PCA Infusion Pump
Summary
by MITRE
Hospira Lifecare PCA infusion pump running "SW ver 412" does not require authentication for Telnet sessions, which allows remote attackers to gain root privileges via TCP port 23.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2019
The CVE-2015-3459 vulnerability affects Hospira Lifecare PCA infusion pumps operating on software version 412, representing a critical security flaw in medical device infrastructure that exposes healthcare systems to significant remote exploitation risks. This vulnerability specifically targets the Telnet service implementation within the device's firmware, where the authentication mechanism has been entirely omitted or improperly configured, allowing any remote attacker to establish a Telnet session without providing credentials. The exposure occurs through TCP port 23, which is the standard port for Telnet services, making the vulnerability easily discoverable and exploitable using common network scanning tools. The device's failure to implement proper authentication controls creates an unauthenticated access point that directly leads to root privilege escalation, effectively granting attackers complete administrative control over the medical device.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-305 authentication flaws, specifically CWE-305 Authentication Bypass, where the system fails to properly verify user identity before granting access to privileged functions. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in the device's security architecture, as it violates the principle of least privilege by allowing unrestricted access to the device's command-line interface. The absence of authentication mechanisms on a device that handles critical medical treatments creates a severe attack surface that can be exploited by threat actors with minimal technical expertise. The vulnerability operates at the network level, requiring only basic network connectivity and knowledge of the target device's IP address to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where such devices are often connected to hospital networks without proper segmentation or monitoring.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3459 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over patient medication delivery systems. With root privileges, an attacker could potentially modify dosage parameters, alter treatment protocols, disable safety mechanisms, or even completely shut down the device during critical treatment periods. This vulnerability directly violates healthcare security standards and could lead to patient harm or death, making it a serious concern for healthcare organizations under regulatory compliance frameworks such as HIPAA and FDA regulations. The attack surface is particularly concerning in hospital environments where multiple infusion pumps may be networked together, allowing for lateral movement and potential compromise of entire treatment systems. The vulnerability also impacts the device's integrity and availability, as attackers could potentially modify firmware or configuration settings that are critical for safe patient care operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate network segmentation to isolate medical devices from general hospital networks, implementing network access controls to restrict Telnet access to authorized personnel only, and disabling Telnet services entirely where possible. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices and implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized Telnet connections. The remediation approach must align with NIST cybersecurity frameworks and healthcare security guidelines, emphasizing the importance of maintaining secure device configurations and implementing proper network architecture. Device vendors should be contacted immediately to determine if firmware updates are available, though in many cases such legacy medical devices may no longer receive security updates. Security teams should also implement continuous monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous network behavior indicative of unauthorized access attempts, while ensuring that any necessary Telnet access is properly logged and audited to maintain compliance with healthcare regulatory requirements.