CVE-2018-5470 in IntelliSpace Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Philips IntelliSpace Portal all versions of 8.0.x, and 7.0.x have an unquoted search path or element vulnerability that has been identified, which may allow an authorized local user to execute arbitrary code and escalate their level of privileges.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5470 affects Philips IntelliSpace Portal versions 7.0.x and 8.0.x, representing a critical security flaw that exploits an unquoted search path or element vulnerability. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-178 category, which specifically addresses the issue of unquoted search paths where the operating system searches for executables in a sequence of directories without proper quoting of pathnames. The vulnerability exists within the application's installation or execution process where system paths are not properly quoted, creating opportunities for malicious code injection.
The technical flaw manifests when an authorized local user manipulates the system's search path mechanism to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This occurs because the application does not properly quote directory paths during execution, allowing an attacker to place malicious executables in directories that are searched before legitimate application directories. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only local access and authorized user privileges to exploit, making it accessible to insiders or attackers who have gained initial access to the system. The flaw enables privilege escalation by allowing the malicious code to execute with the same privileges as the legitimate application, potentially leading to full system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to healthcare organizations that rely on Philips IntelliSpace Portal for medical imaging and clinical information management. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to sensitive patient data, disruption of critical medical services, and potential compromise of the entire healthcare information technology infrastructure. The unquoted search path vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could be leveraged by attackers to maintain long-term access to the system. The impact extends beyond immediate privilege escalation as it could serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration, particularly in environments where medical devices and IT systems are closely integrated.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for this vulnerability, which would address the unquoted search path issue by properly quoting all directory paths in the application's execution environment. System administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify and remediate any other instances of unquoted search paths within the organization's software ecosystem. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper access controls and monitoring for suspicious execution patterns. Additionally, organizations should consider applying the principle of least privilege and ensuring that application installations are performed with proper path quoting to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in the future. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and demonstrates the importance of proper path handling in preventing code injection attacks. The remediation efforts should also include regular security training for system administrators and developers to prevent similar issues in custom applications and third-party software installations.