CVE-2019-25720 in SC 6002XL
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2026
Dräger SC Monitoring devices (SC 6002XL, SC 6802XL, SC 7000, SC 8000, SC 9000 XL) contain a denial-of-service vulnerability in all software versions that allows unauthenticated attackers to reboot the monitor by sending a malformed network packet. Attackers can repeatedly send such malformed packets to disrupt patient monitoring until the device falls back to default configuration and loses network connectivity.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2026
The Dräger SC series monitoring devices represent critical medical equipment used in healthcare environments for patient surveillance and vital signs monitoring. These industrial-grade monitors are designed to maintain continuous operation in clinical settings where device reliability directly impacts patient safety outcomes. The vulnerability affects multiple models including the SC 6002XL, SC 6802XL, SC 7000, SC 8000, and SC 9000 XL, indicating a widespread software flaw that compromises the operational integrity of these essential medical systems.
This denial-of-service vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the network protocol handling mechanisms of the affected devices. The flaw specifically manifests when the monitoring equipment receives malformed network packets that are not properly sanitized or filtered before processing. The technical implementation lacks proper boundary checks and packet validation routines that would normally prevent malformed data from triggering system instability. According to CWE classification, this represents a variant of CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, where insufficient validation allows malicious inputs to cause unintended system behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise patient care delivery in critical environments. When attackers repeatedly send malformed packets, the devices undergo repeated reboots that can occur at intervals as short as seconds, effectively rendering the monitoring equipment unusable for patient surveillance. This continuous disruption forces healthcare providers to manually intervene by physically accessing the devices or implementing network isolation measures. The cascading effect includes potential data loss during reboot cycles and complete loss of network connectivity, forcing systems into default configurations that may not align with current clinical protocols.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, where attackers exploit weaknesses in network infrastructure to disrupt availability. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any individual with network access can potentially compromise these devices without requiring credentials or specialized knowledge. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning in healthcare environments where network segmentation may be insufficient and where unauthorized access points could provide attackers with easy entry vectors. The default configuration fallback behavior during prolonged disruption represents a secondary security concern as it may expose previously configured settings to unintended modification.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize network-level controls including firewall rules that restrict access to the affected devices, implementation of network segmentation to isolate critical monitoring equipment, and deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous packet patterns. Device vendors should provide firmware updates that include proper input validation mechanisms and robust error handling routines. Healthcare organizations must implement comprehensive device inventory management to identify all affected units and establish incident response procedures for handling denial-of-service attacks. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect and alert on repetitive reboot patterns or unusual traffic volumes targeting these specific devices, enabling proactive response measures that can prevent complete service disruption while maintaining patient safety protocols.