CVE-2015-3954 in Plum A+ Infusion System
Summary
by MITRE
Hospira Plum A+ Infusion System version 13.4 and prior, Plum A+3 Infusion System version 13.6 and prior, and Symbiq Infusion System, version 3.13 and prior give unauthenticated users root privileges on Port 23/TELNET by default. An unauthorized user could issue commands to the pump. Hospira recommends that customers close Port 23/TELNET on the affected devices. Hospira has also released the Plum 360 Infusion System which is not vulnerable to this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2023
The CVE-2015-3954 vulnerability affects several Hospira infusion pump systems including the Plum A+ Infusion System version 13.4 and earlier, Plum A+3 Infusion System version 13.6 and earlier, and Symbiq Infusion System version 3.13 and earlier. This represents a critical security flaw that fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of medical device operations. The vulnerability stems from the default configuration of these infusion systems which exposes port 23, the standard telnet service port, without proper authentication mechanisms. This misconfiguration creates a direct pathway for unauthorized users to gain root privileges on the affected devices, effectively granting them complete administrative control over the medical equipment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and specifically manifests as a weakness in authentication mechanisms. The flaw operates at the network level where default services remain enabled and accessible without requiring proper authentication credentials. When an unauthorized user connects to port 23, they can execute commands directly on the pump system, potentially altering infusion rates, stopping medication delivery, or accessing sensitive patient data. This represents a severe operational risk in healthcare environments where infusion pumps are critical for patient care and where unauthorized access could lead to life-threatening situations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass serious patient safety concerns and regulatory compliance issues. Healthcare organizations using these affected systems face potential exposure to malicious actors who could manipulate drug delivery rates, pause or stop treatments, or access confidential patient information stored on the devices. The vulnerability affects medical devices that are typically deployed in critical care environments such as intensive care units, operating rooms, and emergency departments where continuous and precise medication delivery is essential. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it particularly dangerous for cyber attackers targeting healthcare infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including closing port 23 on all affected devices to prevent unauthorized access, as recommended by Hospira. Additional protective measures involve implementing network segmentation to isolate these devices from general network access, deploying network access control lists to restrict telnet access, and conducting thorough inventory assessments to identify all affected systems within the organization. Regular security audits should be performed to ensure that default services remain disabled and that proper authentication mechanisms are in place. The release of the Plum 360 Infusion System by Hospira demonstrates the company's response to this vulnerability and represents a secure alternative that addresses these authentication and access control weaknesses. Healthcare providers must also consider updating their incident response procedures to account for potential exploitation of such vulnerabilities in their medical device environments.