CVE-2015-6006 in MEDCIN Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The AddUserFinding implementation in Medicomp MEDCIN Engine 2.22.20153.x before 2.22.20153.226 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (integer truncation and heap-based buffer overflow) via a crafted packet on port 8190.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6006 resides within the Medicomp MEDCIN Engine version 2.22.20153.x prior to 2.22.20153.226, specifically affecting the AddUserFinding implementation. This software component serves as a critical interface for medical data processing and user management within healthcare information systems, making it a prime target for exploitation in cybersecurity attacks. The flaw manifests through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize network packets received on port 8190, which is designated for medical device communication protocols. The vulnerability architecture demonstrates a classic example of insufficient input sanitization where malicious actors can craft specially designed packets to exploit weaknesses in the software's data handling processes. This particular implementation flaw represents a fundamental breach in the software's security model, as it allows unauthorized code execution capabilities that could compromise entire medical information systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves two distinct but interconnected attack vectors that together create a severe security risk. The first vector involves integer truncation, where the software processes integer values in a manner that causes overflow conditions when handling user-defined data inputs. This truncation occurs during the conversion of data types within the AddUserFinding function, leading to unexpected behavior when processing user-supplied information. The second vector is a heap-based buffer overflow that occurs when the software fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before copying it into allocated memory buffers. This buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code or data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The combination of these two vulnerabilities creates a powerful attack surface that can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, as the vulnerable service listens on port 8190 and accepts connections from any network source.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a critical security weakness that could enable complete system compromise. Healthcare organizations utilizing affected versions of the Medicomp MEDCIN Engine face significant risks including unauthorized access to patient medical records, potential data exfiltration, system disruption, and in severe cases, complete system takeover. The integer truncation vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the software's internal state through carefully crafted inputs, potentially causing the system to behave unpredictably or execute unintended code sequences. The heap-based buffer overflow creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads directly into the application's memory space, which could then be executed with the privileges of the running service. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index bounds, and CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, both of which are fundamental weaknesses in software security design. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerable service operates on a standard port commonly used for medical device communication, making it accessible to attackers who may have already gained network access through other means.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with the deployment of network segmentation measures that isolate the affected system from general network access. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided patch that updates the MEDCIN Engine to version 2.22.20153.226 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for both the integer truncation and heap-based buffer overflow conditions. Network access controls should be implemented to restrict access to port 8190, limiting connections to only trusted sources and implementing strict firewall rules to prevent unauthorized access. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics that align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation, and T1071.004, which addresses application layer protocol manipulation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous patterns in network traffic on port 8190, particularly unusual packet sizes or malformed data sequences that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all medical device communication systems to identify similar weaknesses in other components that may be vulnerable to similar attack vectors. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched software to ensure that the fixes do not introduce regressions in system functionality, as medical information systems require high availability and reliability in their operations.