CVE-2020-35308 in DICOM Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2021
CONQUEST DICOM SERVER before 1.5.0 has a code execution vulnerability which can be exploited by attackers to execute malicious code.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-35308 affects the CONQUEST DICOM SERVER software version prior to 1.5.0, representing a critical code execution flaw that poses significant security risks to healthcare organizations relying on medical imaging systems. This vulnerability exists within the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) server implementation, which is widely used in hospital networks and medical facilities for storing, retrieving, and transmitting medical imaging data. The affected system processes DICOM protocol communications and handles various medical image formats, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise healthcare infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests as a code execution vulnerability that allows remote attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the server environment. This typically occurs through improper input validation or sanitization of DICOM data received from external sources, enabling attackers to manipulate the server's processing routines. The vulnerability likely stems from insufficient validation of incoming DICOM objects, particularly those containing embedded scripts or malformed data structures that can trigger unintended code execution paths within the server's memory management or data processing components. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-74 and CWE-94 categories, which encompass injection flaws and code execution vulnerabilities respectively, making it particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where system integrity is paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized code execution, as it can enable attackers to gain full control over the medical imaging server and potentially escalate privileges to access underlying network resources. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive patient medical records, disrupt critical healthcare services, or even deploy ransomware attacks against the organization's infrastructure. The consequences are particularly severe in healthcare settings where medical imaging data represents highly sensitive personal health information subject to strict regulatory compliance requirements such as HIPAA. The vulnerability could also serve as a stepping stone for lateral movement within hospital networks, potentially compromising other connected systems including electronic health record systems, laboratory information systems, and network infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-35308 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 1.5.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the code execution vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to DICOM servers, deploy intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor DICOM protocol traffic, and establish strict access controls for DICOM server endpoints. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors, while implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior in medical imaging systems. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) indicates that attackers may utilize command execution capabilities to maintain persistence and escalate privileges within compromised systems. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes and maintaining detailed inventory records of all DICOM server installations to ensure comprehensive coverage of security updates across their healthcare infrastructure.