CVE-2022-47376 in Alaris Infusion Central
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2023
The Alaris Infusion Central software, versions 1.1 to 1.3.2, may contain a recoverable password after the installation. No patient health data is stored in the database, although some site installations may choose to store personal data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2025
The Alaris Infusion Central software vulnerability CVE-2022-47376 represents a significant security weakness in medical device management systems that could potentially compromise patient safety and data integrity. This issue affects versions 1.1 through 1.3.2 of the software, which is commonly deployed in healthcare environments for infusion therapy management. The vulnerability manifests as a recoverable password that persists after software installation, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries could leverage to gain unauthorized access to critical medical device control systems. The presence of such a flaw in infusion central software is particularly concerning given the sensitive nature of medical environments and the potential for disruption to life-critical medical procedures.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from improper secure credential management during the installation process of the Alaris Infusion Central software. When the software is installed, it leaves behind a recoverable password that could be accessed through various means including system recovery tools, forensic analysis, or direct system examination. This represents a violation of fundamental security principles where authentication credentials are not properly secured or destroyed after installation, creating a persistent backdoor access mechanism. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and CWE-259, which covers the use of weak password mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices where the software fails to properly implement secure credential handling and disposal mechanisms that should be standard in medical device software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could potentially disrupt critical medical workflows and compromise patient care delivery. Healthcare facilities relying on Alaris Infusion Central systems may face significant operational risks when unauthorized individuals gain access to the system, potentially allowing them to modify infusion rates, access device configurations, or even cause system malfunctions that could impact patient treatment. The fact that some installations may choose to store personal data alongside the software adds additional risk layers, as this data could include patient identifiers, treatment histories, or other sensitive medical information. This vulnerability could enable adversaries to conduct reconnaissance activities, gather intelligence about patient treatment protocols, or potentially cause harm through malicious modifications to infusion therapy parameters. The impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including conducting comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected systems and implementing temporary access controls. The most effective immediate action involves disabling or removing the recoverable password mechanism and ensuring that all installations follow secure credential management protocols. System administrators should perform thorough security audits to verify that no unauthorized access has occurred through this vulnerability and consider implementing additional monitoring controls around system access logs. Long-term remediation requires updating to patched versions of the software, implementing proper secure credential disposal mechanisms, and establishing comprehensive security testing procedures for medical device software installations. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential lateral movement if the vulnerability is exploited, while maintaining compliance with healthcare security regulations such as HIPAA and the FDA's medical device cybersecurity guidance. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for robust security practices in medical device environments where patient safety and data protection are paramount considerations.