CVE-2018-5458 in IntelliSpace Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Philips IntelliSpace Portal all versions of 8.0.x, and 7.0.x have a vulnerability using SSL legacy encryption that could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to resources and information.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5458 affects Philips IntelliSpace Portal versions 7.0.x and 8.0.x, representing a critical security flaw that exploits SSL legacy encryption mechanisms. This issue resides within the medical imaging and healthcare information systems domain, where the integrity and confidentiality of patient data are paramount. The vulnerability stems from the system's reliance on outdated cryptographic protocols that have known weaknesses and are susceptible to various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle and decryption attacks. The affected platform serves as a central hub for medical imaging data management and clinical information systems, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking unauthorized access to sensitive healthcare information.
The technical flaw manifests through the implementation of legacy SSL encryption methods that do not meet current security standards and cryptographic requirements. This weakness allows attackers to potentially intercept and manipulate communications between the portal and connected medical devices, applications, or users. The vulnerability specifically targets the SSL protocol version 2.0 or 3.0 implementations that lack proper forward secrecy and use weak cryptographic algorithms. Attackers can exploit this by performing protocol downgrade attacks or by leveraging known vulnerabilities in legacy SSL implementations to decrypt sensitive communications. The flaw does not require authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote attackers without prior access credentials. This represents a direct violation of security best practices and aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in security protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, patient privacy violations, and compromise of critical healthcare infrastructure. Medical imaging data and patient records stored within the IntelliSpace Portal could be exposed to unauthorized parties, leading to serious privacy violations and regulatory compliance issues under HIPAA and similar healthcare data protection laws. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate medical data, potentially affecting patient care decisions and clinical outcomes. Organizations relying on this platform face significant risks including reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and potential legal consequences from data breaches. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that healthcare systems often contain highly sensitive information and may be targeted by sophisticated adversaries seeking to exploit weak cryptographic implementations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of cryptographic protocol updates and security configuration changes. Organizations should disable legacy SSL versions and enforce the use of modern TLS 1.2 or higher protocols with strong cipher suites. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in related systems. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that cryptographic upgrades do not disrupt critical medical workflows or device communications. Security patches and updates from Philips should be applied immediately, and system administrators should implement proper key management practices to prevent future vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic implementations and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and defense evasion through protocol manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network intrusion detection systems and regular security awareness training for personnel handling sensitive healthcare data.