CVE-2025-1001 in RadiAnt DICOM Viewer
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2025
Medixant RadiAnt DICOM Viewer is vulnerable due to failure of the update mechanism to verify the update server's certificate which could allow an attacker to alter network traffic and carry out a machine-in-the-middle attack (MITM). An attacker could modify the server's response and deliver a malicious update to the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-1001 affects the Medixant RadiAnt DICOM Viewer, a medical imaging software used extensively in healthcare environments for viewing and managing digital imaging and communications in medicine files. This critical security flaw stems from a fundamental failure in the application's update mechanism that lacks proper certificate verification protocols. The software's inability to authenticate the update server's SSL/TLS certificate creates a significant attack vector that compromises the integrity of the software supply chain. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in healthcare settings where medical imaging systems require regular updates to maintain functionality and security, making the potential for malicious interference especially dangerous.
The technical flaw manifests in the update process where the RadiAnt DICOM Viewer fails to validate the digital certificate presented by the update server during the secure communication handshake. This weakness allows attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the client application and the update server, enabling them to perform man-in-the-middle attacks without detection. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295 which describes "Improper Certificate Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1592.001 for "Phishing for Information" and T1071.004 for "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" when attackers manipulate update server communications. The absence of certificate pinning or proper validation routines means that attackers can intercept legitimate update traffic and substitute malicious payloads that appear to originate from trusted sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple software compromise, particularly within healthcare environments where medical imaging systems operate in highly regulated and sensitive contexts. An attacker who successfully executes a man-in-the-middle attack could deliver malicious updates that introduce backdoors, disable security features, or corrupt medical imaging data. This represents a significant threat to patient safety and data integrity since medical imaging systems often contain sensitive personal health information and critical diagnostic data. The vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to gain persistent access to healthcare networks through the compromised imaging system, as these applications often run with elevated privileges and may have network access to internal medical systems. The attack surface is further expanded due to the widespread use of DICOM viewers in hospitals and medical facilities globally.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-1001 should focus on immediate certificate validation enforcement and network security hardening. Organizations should implement certificate pinning mechanisms to ensure that only specific trusted certificates are accepted during update processes, preventing attackers from substituting their own certificates. Network administrators should deploy deep packet inspection and SSL/TLS monitoring tools to detect anomalous update traffic patterns that might indicate MITM activity. The recommended approach includes disabling automatic updates until proper certificate validation is implemented, implementing network segmentation to isolate update traffic, and establishing a formal process for verifying update authenticity through multiple independent channels. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access controls that restrict outbound update requests to only known legitimate update servers, thereby reducing the attack surface and preventing unauthorized certificate substitution. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure update mechanisms in medical devices and underscores the need for robust supply chain security practices in healthcare environments.