CVE-2018-20053 in Connectivity Engine
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Cerner Connectivity Engine (CCE) 4 devices. The hostname, timezone, and NTP server configurations on the CCE device are vulnerable to command injection by sending a crafted configuration file over the network.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20053 affects Cerner Connectivity Engine version 4 devices, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of networked medical devices. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the configuration processing mechanism of the CCE platform, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data during network-based configuration updates. The vulnerability specifically targets three critical system parameters including hostname, timezone, and NTP server configurations, all of which are susceptible to malicious command injection attacks when processed through the device's network configuration interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of configuration files transmitted over the network to the affected CCE devices. When a crafted configuration file containing malicious commands is sent to the device, the system processes these inputs without adequate sanitization or validation, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary commands that execute with the privileges of the configuration processing service. This command injection vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on the device, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive medical data. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages improper input handling techniques that align with CWE-77 principles, specifically targeting command injection vulnerabilities that allow execution of arbitrary commands through untrusted input sources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to healthcare organizations utilizing Cerner Connectivity Engine devices, as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or physical access to the devices. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential data exfiltration, system disruption, and unauthorized modification of critical device configurations that govern network connectivity and time synchronization. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access points, manipulate system time settings to evade security monitoring, or redirect network traffic through malicious NTP servers, potentially creating man-in-the-middle scenarios that compromise the integrity of medical device communications.
The security implications of CVE-2018-20053 align with ATT&CK techniques focusing on command and control operations and privilege escalation, as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious payloads and maintain persistent access to medical device networks. Healthcare organizations should implement immediate network segmentation to isolate CCE devices from general network traffic, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious configuration file transfers, and establish strict access controls for network configuration interfaces. Mitigation strategies must include firmware updates from Cerner to address the input validation flaws, network monitoring to detect unauthorized configuration changes, and comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all connected medical devices to identify similar weaknesses in the healthcare IT infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure configuration management practices and adherence to security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-82 for industrial control systems and healthcare-specific security frameworks that emphasize the protection of medical device configurations against malicious manipulation.