CVE-2018-10599 in Patient Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
IntelliVue Patient Monitors MP Series (including MP2/X2/MP30/MP50/MP70/NP90/MX700/800) Rev B-M, IntelliVue Patient Monitors MX (MX400-550) Rev J-M and (X3/MX100 for Rev M only), and Avalon Fetal/Maternal Monitors FM20/FM30/FM40/FM50 with software Revisions F.0, G.0 and J.3 have a vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated attacker to read memory from an attacker-chosen device address within the same subnet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10599 affects a range of IntelliVue patient monitors manufactured by Philips Healthcare, specifically targeting the MP Series devices including MP2/X2/MP30/MP50/MP70/NP90/MX700/800 with firmware revisions B through M, along with MX series monitors MX400-550 in revisions J through M, and Avalon fetal/maternal monitors FM20/FM30/FM40/FM50 with software revisions F.0, G.0, and J.3. This security flaw resides within the network communication protocols of these critical medical devices, representing a significant concern for healthcare environments where patient monitoring systems operate. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to perform memory reads from arbitrary device addresses within the same network subnet, creating a pathway for potential data exfiltration and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms and inadequate input validation within the network communication stack of these medical devices. The flaw enables an attacker positioned within the same subnet to exploit the device's memory access capabilities without requiring any credentials or authorization. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in cybersecurity. The vulnerability essentially provides a memory disclosure attack vector that could allow an attacker to extract sensitive information stored in the device's memory, potentially including patient data, system configurations, or proprietary software information. The attack requires only network access within the same subnet, making it particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where devices often share network segments with various other systems and users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within healthcare networks. Medical devices are increasingly connected to hospital networks, and this vulnerability could allow attackers to gather intelligence about device configurations, firmware versions, and potentially identify other vulnerabilities within the medical device ecosystem. The implications are particularly severe in critical care environments where patient monitors are essential for life-saving interventions, as this vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt monitoring capabilities or gather sensitive patient information. Healthcare organizations may face regulatory compliance issues under HIPAA and other data protection regulations, as unauthorized access to patient monitoring data constitutes a serious breach of confidentiality. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to map network topology and identify other connected devices that may have similar security weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10599 should focus on network segmentation and access control measures to prevent unauthorized access from within the same subnet. Organizations should implement network access control lists and firewall rules to restrict communication between medical devices and other network segments where possible. The recommended approach includes isolating critical patient monitoring devices on dedicated network segments with strict access controls and implementing network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should ensure that all affected devices are updated with the latest firmware releases provided by Philips Healthcare, which should address this specific vulnerability. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing of medical device networks should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses, and security awareness training should be provided to healthcare IT staff regarding the risks associated with network-connected medical devices. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing the principle of defense in depth, where multiple layers of security controls are employed to protect critical healthcare infrastructure from various attack vectors.