CVE-2017-12726 in Medfusion 4000 Wireless Syringe Infusion Pump
Summary
by MITRE
A Use of Hard-coded Password issue was discovered in Smiths Medical Medfusion 4000 Wireless Syringe Infusion Pump, Version 1.1, 1.5, and 1.6. Telnet on the pump uses hardcoded credentials, which can be used if the pump is configured to allow external communications. Smiths Medical assesses that it is not possible to upload files via Telnet and the impact of this vulnerability is limited to the communications module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2020
The CVE-2017-12726 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Smiths Medical Medfusion 4000 Wireless Syringe Infusion Pump across multiple firmware versions including 1.1, 1.5, and 1.6. This issue manifests as a use of hard-coded password vulnerability that directly impacts the device's network security posture. The vulnerability specifically affects the telnet service implementation within the medical device, where authentication credentials are embedded directly into the software code rather than being dynamically generated or user-configurable. This design flaw creates a persistent security risk that remains constant regardless of system updates or administrative configuration changes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the telnet protocol which is enabled on the infusion pump when external communications are configured. The hardcoded credentials provide attackers with unauthorized access to the device's command-line interface, allowing them to execute commands and potentially manipulate the pump's operational parameters. According to the vendor assessment, while file upload capabilities are not available through the telnet interface, the ability to establish remote command execution through telnet creates significant operational risks for healthcare environments. This vulnerability falls under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software systems, and represents a fundamental security misconfiguration that violates basic security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially life-threatening scenarios in healthcare settings. Medical devices like the Medfusion 4000 are critical components of patient care systems, and unauthorized access to their control interfaces could allow malicious actors to alter infusion rates, modify dosage calculations, or disrupt the device's normal operation. The limited scope of impact as assessed by Smiths Medical indicates that the vulnerability is primarily confined to the communications module rather than affecting core medical functions, yet this still represents a significant security gap in patient safety infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1075 which covers the use of legitimate credentials for lateral movement and persistence within network environments.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12726 should prioritize network segmentation and access control measures to prevent unauthorized network access to medical devices. Organizations should disable unnecessary services such as telnet on medical devices when not required for maintenance purposes, implement robust network monitoring to detect unauthorized telnet connections, and establish secure remote access protocols such as SSH instead of telnet. Additionally, regular security assessments of medical device networks should include vulnerability scanning specifically targeting hardcoded credentials and network service configurations. The remediation process should involve firmware updates from the vendor when available, along with comprehensive network security audits to identify and isolate other devices with similar security weaknesses. Organizations must also consider implementing network access controls and authentication mechanisms that can prevent unauthorized access to critical medical devices even if they are connected to network infrastructure.