CVE-2018-5448 in 2090 Carelink Programmer
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of the Medtronic 2090 Carelink Programmer are affected by a directory traversal vulnerability where the product's software deployment network could allow an attacker to read files on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2025
The Medtronic 2090 Carelink Programmer represents a critical medical device used for programming insulin pumps and other diabetes management systems in clinical and home settings. This device operates as a specialized communication interface between healthcare providers and patient medical devices, making it a potential target for cyber attacks that could compromise patient safety and data confidentiality. The vulnerability resides within the device's software deployment network functionality, which handles file operations and system interactions during programming sessions. The affected system lacks proper input validation mechanisms when processing file paths, creating an exploitable condition that could be leveraged by remote attackers to access sensitive system files and data.
This directory traversal vulnerability specifically manifests when the Carelink Programmer processes file paths without adequate sanitization or validation. An attacker could potentially manipulate input parameters to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access files that should remain restricted. The flaw operates at the application layer and could be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring physical access to the device. According to the CWE classification system, this vulnerability maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary file reading capabilities that could expose system configuration files, patient data, device logs, and potentially sensitive medical information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential compromise of patient safety and device integrity. Medical devices like the Medtronic 2090 Carelink Programmer contain critical system files that could be exploited to modify device behavior or extract confidential patient information. The vulnerability could enable attackers to access device firmware, configuration parameters, or communication protocols that might be used to manipulate device settings or conduct further attacks. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves executing malicious code through command injection or file manipulation. The risk assessment indicates that successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to patient medical data, device configuration changes, or potential disruption of critical medical device operations that could directly impact patient care.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and access controls within the device's software deployment network. Device manufacturers should ensure that all file path operations include proper sanitization and validation to prevent directory traversal attacks. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit access to the Carelink Programmer to authorized personnel only. Regular security updates and patches should be deployed to address known vulnerabilities, with healthcare organizations maintaining inventory tracking of all connected medical devices. The implementation of network monitoring solutions and intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious network activity related to the device. Additionally, organizations should establish secure configuration management practices and conduct regular security assessments of medical device networks to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.