CVE-2025-4395 in MyCareLink Patient Monitor 24950
Summary
by MITRE • 07/24/2025
Medtronic MyCareLink Patient Monitor has a built-in user account with an empty password, which allows an attacker with physical access to log in with no password and access modify system functionality.
This issue affects MyCareLink Patient Monitor models 24950 and 24952: before June 25, 2025
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2026
The Medtronic MyCareLink Patient Monitor represents a critical medical device vulnerability that demonstrates the dangerous intersection of physical security and cybersecurity in healthcare environments. This device, designed to monitor patients with cardiac conditions, contains a fundamental authentication flaw that creates an exploitable backdoor through a hardcoded user account with no password protection. The vulnerability specifically impacts models 24950 and 24952, affecting installations prior to the specified date, highlighting the ongoing challenge of legacy system security in medical device ecosystems. The presence of such a credentialless account fundamentally undermines the device's security posture and creates a pathway for unauthorized individuals to gain full administrative access to critical patient monitoring systems.
The technical flaw manifests as a hardcoded administrative account within the device's authentication system, where an empty password field allows immediate access without any credential verification. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a classic case of insufficient authentication mechanisms in embedded systems. The flaw exists at the core of the device's access control architecture, where the absence of proper password policies and account management procedures creates an inherent weakness that bypasses normal authentication protocols. Attackers with physical access to the device can exploit this vulnerability immediately upon connection, eliminating any need for sophisticated attack vectors or social engineering techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the patient monitoring system's functionality. This includes the ability to modify patient data, alter monitoring parameters, disable critical alerts, and potentially manipulate the device's operational behavior in ways that could directly endanger patient safety. The risk is particularly severe because the device operates in healthcare environments where patient lives depend on accurate and reliable monitoring, making any unauthorized modification of system parameters a potential medical emergency. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat that remains active as long as the device is in use, with no automated remediation possible without physical intervention.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate and long-term security concerns. Immediate actions should include physical security measures such as securing device access points, implementing strict access controls, and establishing protocols for regular security assessments. Device administrators should consider disabling or removing the hardcoded account if possible through firmware updates or configuration changes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper device lifecycle management and the need for manufacturers to implement robust security practices during the development phase. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts, while establishing clear procedures for reporting and responding to security incidents involving medical devices. This case underscores the critical need for adherence to cybersecurity standards such as those defined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 for protecting medical devices from both physical and logical threats.