CVE-2026-18164 in FL-100
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2026
An undocumented hard-coded credential, shared by all device units, is authorized to bypass authentication. This allows an attacker within Bluetooth range to arbitrarily manipulate brain stimulation parameters and state.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in medical device firmware where a hard-coded credential exists that is shared across all device units within a specific product line. The presence of such a credential violates fundamental security principles and creates a universal backdoor that bypasses all authentication mechanisms. The credential's documentation absence indicates poor security hygiene and suggests that the development team failed to implement proper secure credential management practices during the design phase.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows an attacker within Bluetooth range to exploit the hard-coded credentials for unauthorized access to brain stimulation devices. This creates a scenario where any individual possessing knowledge of the shared credential can manipulate critical parameters such as stimulation intensity, frequency, duration, and other therapeutic settings. The vulnerability fundamentally undermines the device's security model by providing a persistent access vector that cannot be revoked or changed through standard authentication mechanisms. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to patient safety and device integrity. The ability to arbitrarily manipulate brain stimulation parameters could result in harmful therapeutic outcomes including overstimulation, under-stimulation, or complete system failure during critical treatment sessions. The Bluetooth range limitation does not mitigate the risk as it creates a localized attack surface that can be exploited by anyone within physical proximity to the device, potentially including unauthorized personnel in clinical settings. This vulnerability directly impacts the device's compliance with medical security standards and could lead to regulatory non-compliance issues.
The security implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data manipulation, system state compromise, and risk of device tampering that could affect multiple units simultaneously. Attackers could leverage this credential to perform malicious actions such as altering treatment protocols, accessing sensitive patient data, or creating false system logs. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active throughout the device lifecycle and cannot be resolved through standard security updates or patches.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of dynamic credential generation mechanisms, enforcement of device-specific authentication tokens, and comprehensive removal of hard-coded credentials from firmware. Organizations must implement proper key management practices and establish secure boot processes that prevent unauthorized access. The recommended approach aligns with NIST SP 800-53 security controls and addresses ATT&CK technique T1548.001 related to abuse of credentials for privilege escalation. Additionally, manufacturers should implement device registration processes and establish secure communication protocols that eliminate the need for shared credentials. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other device components or firmware versions.