CVE-2021-33022 in Vue PACS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2022
Philips Vue PACS versions 12.2.x.x and prior transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-33022 affects Philips Vue PACS versions 12.2.x.x and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in medical imaging systems that compromises the confidentiality of sensitive patient data. This issue stems from the improper handling of network communications where security-critical information flows through unencrypted channels, making it susceptible to interception by malicious actors who can monitor network traffic. The affected system operates within healthcare environments where patient medical records, diagnostic images, and associated metadata contain highly sensitive information that requires strict protection under privacy regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. The vulnerability creates an attack surface that allows unauthorized parties to capture and potentially exploit transmitted data during network communication between the PACS system and other medical devices or servers.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the transmission of sensitive data without appropriate encryption mechanisms, specifically targeting communication channels that should employ secure protocols such as TLS or SSL. This cleartext transmission exposes not only patient health information but also system credentials, configuration data, and operational parameters that could enable attackers to escalate their privileges or gain deeper access to the medical imaging infrastructure. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-319, which describes the weakness of sending sensitive information over an insecure channel, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which covers network service scanning and T1566 which involves credential harvesting through social engineering or network interception methods. The exposed data typically includes authentication tokens, user credentials, and potentially medical image metadata that could be used for identity theft or unauthorized access to medical records.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate data exposure to encompass broader security implications for healthcare organizations. Attackers who successfully intercept this cleartext communication can potentially access patient records, manipulate medical data, or use stolen credentials to authenticate as legitimate users within the PACS environment. The consequences include potential patient harm from data manipulation, regulatory violations leading to significant financial penalties, and reputational damage to healthcare institutions. Organizations may face compliance failures under healthcare privacy regulations, with potential investigations by regulatory bodies such as the Office for Civil Rights in the United States or equivalent authorities in other jurisdictions. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to perform reconnaissance activities, mapping the network structure and identifying additional targets within the healthcare ecosystem that may be connected to the PACS infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-33022 require immediate implementation of encryption protocols across all communication channels within the PACS environment. Healthcare organizations must ensure that all network traffic between the PACS system and other components employs secure communication protocols such as TLS 1.2 or higher, with proper certificate management and validation. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of sensitive communication channels, while also conducting regular network monitoring to detect potential interception attempts. The recommended remediation includes upgrading to Philips Vue PACS version 12.3.x.x or later, which contains the necessary security patches to enforce encrypted communication channels. Organizations should also implement network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address potential data interception events. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all network communications maintain appropriate security controls, with mandatory encryption policies enforced through network configuration management and access control mechanisms.