CVE-2015-3965 in Symbiq Infusion System
Summary
by MITRE
Hospira Symbiq Infusion System 3.13 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to trigger "unanticipated operations" by leveraging "elevated privileges" for an unspecified call to an incorrectly exposed function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2023
The Hospira Symbiq Infusion System represents a critical medical device platform used in healthcare environments for delivering medications and treatments to patients through precise infusion protocols. This system operates within hospital networks and requires authentication for access to its administrative functions, making it a target for sophisticated cyber threats. The vulnerability identified in version 3.13 and earlier versions stems from improper access control mechanisms within the system's application programming interface. When authenticated users with elevated privileges attempt to interact with specific system functions, they can inadvertently trigger unintended operations through a flaw in the function exposure mechanism. This vulnerability specifically affects the system's privilege escalation capabilities and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in how the device handles authenticated sessions and function access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an incorrectly exposed function that should only be accessible through specific internal system pathways but remains reachable through authenticated user sessions. The flaw creates a scenario where legitimate users with appropriate credentials can manipulate system behavior beyond their intended operational scope. This misconfiguration allows for what cybersecurity professionals term "privilege escalation" where users can perform actions that exceed their normal authorization levels. The unspecified nature of the call suggests that the vulnerability affects multiple system functions rather than a single point of failure, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate various aspects of the infusion system's operation including dosage calculations, delivery schedules, and system configurations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to patient safety and healthcare delivery systems. The ability to trigger "unanticipated operations" within an infusion system could lead to medication errors, incorrect dosage administration, or system malfunctions that directly impact patient care. Healthcare organizations using these systems face potential regulatory compliance issues under healthcare security standards such as hipaa and the asa 27001 framework. The remote nature of the attack vector means that unauthorized access could occur from external network locations, potentially allowing cybercriminals to exploit this weakness without physical access to the medical facility. This vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate critical healthcare infrastructure, potentially leading to serious medical incidents or system-wide failures that could affect multiple patients simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and access control enhancements. Organizations must implement proper function access controls and ensure that all system functions are properly secured against unauthorized manipulation. The remediation process involves updating to patched versions of the Symbiq Infusion System software and implementing network segmentation to limit access to these critical systems. Security controls should include regular privilege reviews, enhanced authentication mechanisms, and monitoring of system access logs for unusual activity patterns. Additionally, healthcare organizations should establish incident response procedures specifically designed for medical device security breaches and ensure compliance with relevant industry standards such as those defined by the national institute of standards and technology nist cybersecurity framework. The vulnerability highlights the importance of securing medical devices within healthcare networks and demonstrates the need for continuous security assessments of critical infrastructure components that directly impact patient safety and healthcare delivery operations.