CVE-2016-8375 in Alaris 8015 Point of Care
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) Alaris 8015 Point of Care (PC) unit, Version 9.5 and prior versions, and Version 9.7, and 8000 PC unit. An unauthorized user with physical access to an affected Alaris PC unit may be able to obtain unencrypted wireless network authentication credentials and other sensitive technical data by disassembling the PC unit and accessing the device's flash memory. The Alaris 8015 PC unit, Version 9.7, and the 8000 PC unit store wireless network authentication credentials and other sensitive technical data on internal flash memory. Accessing the internal flash memory of the affected device would require special tools to extract data and carrying out this attack at a healthcare facility would increase the likelihood of detection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8375 affects Becton Dickinson and Company's Alaris 8015 and 8000 Point of Care medical devices, representing a significant security flaw in healthcare IoT infrastructure. This issue stems from the insecure storage of sensitive data within the device's internal flash memory, creating a critical exposure point for unauthorized physical access. The affected devices operate in healthcare environments where patient safety and data confidentiality are paramount, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for medical device security. The flaw specifically impacts versions 9.5 and prior, as well as versions 9.7 and 8000 PC units, indicating a widespread issue across multiple firmware releases that highlights poor security design practices in medical device development.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the device's storage mechanism where wireless network authentication credentials and other sensitive technical data are persisted in unencrypted form within the internal flash memory. This design decision violates fundamental security principles and creates a direct attack vector for physical adversaries who can access the device through disassembly. The attack requires specialized tools to extract data from the flash memory, but the process is feasible given that the devices are deployed in healthcare facilities where physical access might be possible. The storage of credentials in plaintext format represents a direct violation of security best practices and creates opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized network access and potentially escalate privileges within healthcare networks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for healthcare organizations deploying these devices, as it allows for potential credential theft and unauthorized access to medical device networks. The attack surface expands beyond simple device compromise to include broader network infiltration, as stolen credentials could be used to access hospital networks, patient databases, and other connected systems. The healthcare environment presents unique challenges for detection and prevention, as medical devices often operate in areas where physical security controls may be less stringent than traditional IT infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of medical device communications, potentially exposing patient data and compromising the security of entire healthcare networks.
The security implications extend beyond immediate credential theft to encompass potential data breaches, network compromise, and regulatory violations under healthcare privacy laws such as HIPAA. Attackers could leverage stolen credentials to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, modify device configurations, or access sensitive patient information stored within or accessible through these devices. The requirement for physical access makes this attack vector less likely than network-based exploits, but the presence of such vulnerabilities in critical medical infrastructure creates persistent risk for healthcare organizations. This vulnerability demonstrates the need for robust security-by-design principles in medical device development and highlights the gap between traditional IT security practices and the unique requirements of healthcare device security.
Organizations should implement comprehensive physical security measures around deployed medical devices, including restricted access areas and monitoring protocols to prevent unauthorized physical access. Device firmware should be updated to versions that implement proper encryption of sensitive data stored in memory, and organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their medical device infrastructure. The vulnerability underscores the importance of applying industry standards such as those defined in CWE-311 for data encryption and the ATT&CK framework's consideration of physical access threats. Healthcare organizations must also consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of credential theft and ensure that medical device networks are properly isolated from critical patient data systems.