CVE-2017-12723 in Medfusion 4000 Wireless Syringe Infusion Pump
Summary
by MITRE
A Password in Configuration File issue was discovered in Smiths Medical Medfusion 4000 Wireless Syringe Infusion Pump, Version 1.1, 1.5, and 1.6. The pump stores some passwords in the configuration file, which are accessible if the pump is configured to allow external communications.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12723 represents a critical security flaw in Smiths Medical Medfusion 4000 Wireless Syringe Infusion Pump devices running firmware versions 1.1, 1.5, and 1.6. This issue stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the device's configuration management system, creating a persistent security risk that directly impacts patient safety and healthcare information security. The flaw manifests when the pump is configured to enable external communications, which then exposes stored passwords in plaintext format within configuration files accessible to unauthorized parties. This configuration vulnerability falls under the CWE-312 category of "Sensitive Data Exposure" and demonstrates poor secure coding practices in medical device development, where authentication mechanisms are not properly isolated from configuration storage components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the device's configuration file structure which persistently stores authentication credentials in an unencrypted format, making them accessible to anyone with physical or network access to the device when external communication protocols are enabled. The flaw specifically affects wireless connectivity features that allow remote monitoring, configuration updates, or data transmission to healthcare networks. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to the medical device's administrative functions, potentially enabling them to modify infusion rates, alter treatment protocols, or disrupt critical medical operations. The configuration file access represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate separation between operational configuration data and security credentials. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through credential exposure and T1071 for application layer protocol usage in unauthorized device communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential patient harm through unauthorized medical device manipulation. Healthcare facilities using affected Medfusion pumps face significant risk of compromised patient care when attackers can access configuration files containing administrative passwords. The vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor that remains active as long as external communication is enabled, making it particularly dangerous in hospital environments where network segmentation may be inadequate. This exposure could enable attackers to perform malicious modifications to infusion parameters, potentially causing medication errors, device malfunctions, or complete system compromise. The risk is compounded by the fact that these devices operate in critical care environments where immediate medical intervention is required, making any unauthorized access potentially life-threatening. Organizations must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their medical device risk management frameworks, as it represents a failure in defense-in-depth principles and could lead to regulatory violations under healthcare security standards such as HIPAA and FDA medical device regulations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12723 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Smiths Medical to address the configuration file credential storage issue. Healthcare organizations must implement network segmentation to isolate medical devices from general hospital networks, ensuring that external communication is restricted to authorized endpoints only. The configuration of external communication features should be reviewed and restricted to only necessary scenarios, with proper access controls implemented at both network and device levels. Regular security assessments of medical device configurations should be conducted to identify similar credential storage vulnerabilities across the healthcare network. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to medical devices and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing medical device security breaches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure configuration management practices and demonstrates why medical device vendors must prioritize security by design principles rather than retrofitting security measures after deployment.