CVE-2018-8848 in e-Alert Unit
Summary
by MITRE
Philips e-Alert Unit (non-medical device), Version R2.1 and prior. The software, upon installation, sets incorrect permissions for an object that exposes it to an unintended actor.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2020
The Philips e-Alert Unit represents a critical non-medical device used in healthcare environments for patient monitoring and alert management systems. This device operates as part of broader healthcare IT infrastructure and serves as a bridge between medical equipment and clinical workflows. The vulnerability identified in version R2.1 and prior releases stems from improper permission configuration during software installation processes. The affected system creates objects with overly permissive access controls that inadvertently grant unauthorized actors access to sensitive system components.
This permission misconfiguration creates a significant security risk within healthcare environments where device integrity and data protection are paramount. The vulnerability allows unauthorized actors to potentially access system objects that should remain restricted to authorized personnel or system processes. The flaw exists at the installation phase of the software lifecycle, meaning that once the device is deployed and configured, the insecure permission settings persist and create ongoing exposure risks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control violations. An attacker exploiting this weakness could potentially manipulate system configurations, access sensitive data, or disrupt the normal operation of the alert management system. This compromise could lead to delayed or missed patient alerts, which directly impacts patient safety and clinical decision-making processes. The vulnerability particularly affects healthcare organizations that rely on these systems for continuous patient monitoring and emergency response protocols.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which describes improper permission settings that allow access to objects that should be restricted. The issue represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege implementation during software deployment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique where adversaries exploit weak access controls to gain unauthorized system access. Organizations implementing these devices face increased risk of insider threats or external attacks that could compromise patient safety systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate permission correction through software updates provided by Philips, along with comprehensive security audits of deployed systems. Network segmentation and access control policies should be implemented to limit lateral movement within healthcare IT environments. Regular security assessments of non-medical devices integrated into healthcare networks are essential to identify similar permission misconfigurations. Organizations should also implement continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and maintain detailed audit logs for security incident response activities.