CVE-2018-18562 in Accu-Chek Inform II
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Roche Accu-Chek Inform II Base Unit / Base Unit Hub before 03.01.04 and CoaguChek / cobas h232 Handheld Base Unit before 03.01.04. Weak access credentials may enable attackers in the adjacent network to gain unauthorized service access via a service interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2020
This vulnerability affects medical device infrastructure used in healthcare settings, specifically Roche Accu-Chek Inform II Base Unit and CoaguChek/cobas h232 Handheld Base Unit systems. The issue stems from weak default access credentials that persist across multiple device models and firmware versions, creating a persistent security weakness in medical device networks. These devices operate in healthcare environments where patient safety and data integrity are paramount, making unauthorized access particularly concerning. The vulnerability exists in firmware versions prior to 03.01.04, indicating that manufacturers identified and addressed this specific weakness through firmware updates.
The technical flaw manifests through inadequate credential management where default usernames and passwords remain unchanged or are easily guessable, allowing attackers within the adjacent network to establish unauthorized service access. This weakness creates an initial foothold for attackers to potentially escalate privileges and gain deeper access to connected systems. The service interface provides direct access to device functions, configuration settings, and potentially patient data stored on or accessible through these medical devices. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a classic example of poor authentication implementation in embedded systems. The adjacent network access requirement suggests this is not a remote exploit but rather a lateral movement vulnerability that requires physical or network proximity to the devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability in healthcare environments is significant, as these devices typically handle sensitive patient information and may be connected to larger hospital networks. Unauthorized access could potentially lead to data breaches, device manipulation that affects patient care, or even compromise the integrity of medical records. The vulnerability affects medical devices used for glucose monitoring and coagulation testing, which are critical for patient treatment decisions. Attackers could potentially modify device settings, access patient data, or disrupt the normal operation of these devices during critical medical procedures. This weakness also creates opportunities for attackers to use these devices as entry points to access other connected medical systems, potentially leading to broader network compromises within healthcare facilities.
Organizations should immediately implement firmware updates to version 03.01.04 or later to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate these medical devices from general network traffic, limiting the attack surface. Default credentials should be changed immediately upon device deployment and regularly audited. Access controls should be implemented to restrict service interface access to authorized personnel only, and network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper credential management in medical device security and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning. Healthcare organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments of all connected medical devices to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place to prevent future occurrences of this type of security weakness.