CVE-2023-46447 in Rebel Bluetooth Glucose Monitoring System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/20/2024
The POPS! Rebel application 5.0 for Android, in POPS! Rebel Bluetooth Glucose Monitoring System, sends unencrypted glucose measurements over BLE.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46447 affects the POPS Rebel Bluetooth Glucose Monitoring System ecosystem. This represents a critical security flaw in medical device communication protocols where sensitive health data is transmitted without adequate encryption mechanisms. The affected system operates through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connections, which are commonly used in medical IoT devices for seamless data transfer between monitoring equipment and mobile applications. The implementation of unencrypted data transmission creates a significant risk for patient privacy and medical data integrity.
The technical flaw stems from the application's failure to implement proper encryption standards for Bluetooth communication channels. Specifically, glucose measurements and related health data are transmitted in plaintext format over BLE connections, making them susceptible to interception by malicious actors within the wireless communication range. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312, which categorizes "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information" and CWE-310, addressing "Cryptography Errors." The absence of encryption protocols such as AES-256 or other industry-standard cryptographic implementations leaves patient health information exposed to potential eavesdropping attacks. The BLE protocol itself does not provide inherent security measures, requiring applications to implement proper encryption layers for sensitive data transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it compromises the fundamental security posture of medical device ecosystems. Healthcare providers and patients relying on the POPS! Rebel system face significant risks including unauthorized access to personal health information, potential identity theft, and exposure of sensitive medical data that could be exploited for fraudulent purposes. The vulnerability affects the integrity of medical monitoring systems, potentially leading to false readings being injected into the system or unauthorized modifications to patient data. This represents a serious breach of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance requirements, as well as the broader medical device security standards established by the FDA and other regulatory bodies. Attackers with physical proximity to the device could potentially intercept glucose measurements and other health metrics, creating opportunities for targeted attacks against vulnerable individuals.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate implementation of encryption protocols within the application layer. The recommended approach involves integrating robust encryption mechanisms such as TLS 1.3 or equivalent security protocols for all BLE communications. Device manufacturers should implement proper key management systems and ensure that all sensitive data transmitted over wireless channels is protected through strong cryptographic algorithms. Network segmentation and authentication protocols should be strengthened to prevent unauthorized access to the communication channels. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in connected medical devices. The implementation of secure boot processes and runtime integrity checks can help prevent malicious modifications to the application. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual communication patterns that might indicate data interception attempts. Compliance with industry standards including ISO 27001, NIST cybersecurity frameworks, and medical device security guidelines should be maintained throughout the remediation process. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for security-by-design principles in medical IoT devices and the importance of adhering to established security protocols throughout the device lifecycle.