CVE-2020-15482 in Multipara Monitor M1000
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Nescomed Multipara Monitor M1000 devices. The device enables an unencrypted TELNET service by default, with a blank password for the admin account. This allows an attacker to gain root access to the device over the local network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2020
The CVE-2020-15482 vulnerability affects Nescomed Multipara Monitor M1000 medical devices, representing a critical security flaw that compromises the integrity and confidentiality of patient monitoring systems. This vulnerability stems from the device's default configuration that enables an unencrypted telnet service, creating an obvious attack vector for malicious actors who can exploit the weak authentication mechanism to gain unauthorized administrative access. The issue is particularly concerning in healthcare environments where medical devices handle sensitive patient data and critical life-support functions.
The technical flaw manifests through the device's default settings that activate telnet service without proper authentication mechanisms, combined with an empty password for the administrative account. This configuration violates fundamental security principles and creates a backdoor that allows remote attackers to establish a root shell on the device through the local network. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authentication mechanisms, specifically related to weak credentials and lack of encryption, which aligns with CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-310 (CWE-310: Cryptographic Issues) categories. The absence of encryption for network communications and the use of blank credentials creates an environment where attackers can easily escalate privileges and gain complete control over the device's operational functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it allows attackers to manipulate critical medical monitoring data, potentially affecting patient safety and healthcare delivery. An attacker with root access can modify device configurations, alter monitoring parameters, disable safety features, or even cause device failures that could lead to life-threatening situations. The local network exposure means that any device connected to the same network segment can potentially exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in hospital environments where numerous medical devices are interconnected. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 (Valid Accounts), T1046 (Network Service Scanning), and T1566 (Phishing), as it provides an easy entry point for attackers to establish persistent access and potentially move laterally within the healthcare network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-15482 should include immediate disabling of the telnet service and implementation of strong authentication mechanisms, such as requiring complex passwords or implementing multi-factor authentication. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enforced to limit the attack surface, while regular security audits should verify that default configurations have been properly hardened. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized telnet connections and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices in medical device management, including the principle of least privilege, regular security updates, and proper network configuration management. Additionally, healthcare organizations should consider implementing device management solutions that can automatically detect and remediate such configuration vulnerabilities across their entire medical device inventory.