CVE-2018-5468 in IntelliSpace Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Philips Intellispace Portal all versions 7.0.x and 8.0.x have a remote desktop access vulnerability that could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access and in some cases escalate their level of privilege or execute arbitrary code
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The Philips Intellispace Portal represents a critical healthcare information system that manages medical imaging data and clinical workflows across hospital environments. This platform serves as a centralized hub for radiology and cardiology departments, storing sensitive patient information and facilitating remote access to medical images and diagnostic tools. The vulnerability identified in versions 7.0.x and 8.0.x affects the remote desktop functionality that enables authorized personnel to access the system from external locations. This remote access capability, while essential for clinical operations, introduces a significant security risk when improperly configured or secured. The affected versions contain a flaw in the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern remote desktop connections, potentially allowing unauthorized users to establish sessions without proper credentials.
The technical flaw manifests in the remote desktop protocol implementation where insufficient input validation and authentication checks permit attackers to bypass normal access controls. This vulnerability operates at the network level where remote desktop connections are established, typically through standard RDP protocols or similar remote access mechanisms. The flaw allows an attacker to either authenticate using default credentials, exploit weak password policies, or manipulate the authentication handshake process to gain access to the system. In some cases, the vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include privilege escalation capabilities, where initial unauthorized access can be leveraged to elevate privileges within the system. This escalation capability is particularly concerning as it may allow an attacker to gain administrative access, potentially compromising the entire healthcare network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially compromising patient safety and healthcare delivery. Healthcare organizations relying on Intellispace Portal systems face significant risks including data breaches, medical record manipulation, and disruption of critical clinical workflows. The ability to execute arbitrary code on the affected systems provides attackers with complete control over the platform, enabling them to install malicious software, modify patient data, or disrupt system operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of healthcare information systems, which are protected under regulations such as hipaa and other healthcare data protection frameworks. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere in the world, making it particularly dangerous for healthcare organizations with distributed network infrastructures.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling unnecessary remote desktop access, implementing strong authentication controls with multi-factor authentication, and applying the vendor-provided security patches. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to the Intellispace Portal systems, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter. Regular security assessments should be conducted to ensure proper configuration of remote access services, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure least privilege principles are maintained. Healthcare organizations should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for remote desktop protocol anomalies and unauthorized access patterns.