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Security researchers have uncovered multiple vulnerabilities within the Sante PACS Server 4.1.0, a widely used medical imaging solution. These flaws pose a severe risk, including the potential for remote code execution, data theft, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. With a series of high-impact flaws, particularly the critical CVE-2025-2263, which carries a CVSS score of 9.8, healthcare organizations must act quickly to mitigate these security threats.
the Vulnerabilities
The discovered vulnerabilities in Sante PACS Server 4.1.0 primarily expose the system to a wide range of security risks, with the most dangerous being a stack-based buffer overflow. Let’s break down the four critical flaws in detail:
1. CVE-2025-2263: Stack-Based Buffer Overflow (CVSS 9.8)
This flaw arises during login authentication when the server decrypts user credentials using OpenSSLās EVP_DecryptUpdate function. A fixed buffer size of 0x80 bytes is used for output, and if an attacker sends overly long encrypted usernames or passwords, they can overflow this buffer. This results in overwriting critical stack memory, which could lead to arbitrary code execution. Researchers demonstrated this vulnerability through a proof-of-concept script that crashes the server and takes control over the instruction pointer.
2. CVE-2025-2264: Path Traversal (CVSS 7.5)
The serverās static resource handler doesnāt adequately sanitize user-supplied paths. This allows attackers to exploit directory traversal techniques to access sensitive files, such as the HTTP.db database, which contains hashed credentials. This vulnerability can be exploited by simply providing a crafted path in the HTTP request, giving attackers access to critical data.
3. CVE-2025-2265: SHA1 Hash Truncation (CVSS 7.3)
Sante PACS Server 4.1.0 improperly handles password hashing by truncating the SHA1 hash at the first zero byte. This weakens the collision resistance of the hash, allowing attackers to easily brute-force password collisions in a matter of seconds. Researchers demonstrated this flaw using a script that quickly finds password equivalents based on truncated hashes, exposing user accounts to compromise.
4. CVE-2025-2284: Uninitialized Pointer DoS (CVSS 7.5)
This vulnerability occurs when the serverās GetWebLoginCredentials function parses malformed multipart/form-data requests. If certain form fields are missing expected data, it causes the server to access uninitialized memory pointers, leading to a crash. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending a carefully crafted HTTP request, resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) attack that halts the system.
Mitigation Measures and Vendor Response
Santesoft, the vendor of the Sante PACS Server, has released a patch addressing these vulnerabilities in version 4.2.0. Administrators are strongly advised to upgrade to the latest version to prevent exploitation. Additionally, they should:
– Immediately update the system to version 4.2.0.
- Segment networks that host medical imaging systems to limit potential attack vectors.
- Continuously monitor HTTP traffic targeting port 3000/TCP for signs of malicious activity.
The vulnerabilities were first reported to Santesoft on February 26, 2025. The vendor confirmed the fixes in version 4.2.0 on March 11, 2025, and released public advisories on March 14, 2025. The disclosure of these vulnerabilities highlights the security risks associated with outdated cryptographic practices and insufficient input validation in healthcare IT systems.
What Undercode Says:
From a broader perspective, the discovery of these vulnerabilities emphasizes a crucial point in cybersecurity: the growing complexity and necessity of maintaining secure, up-to-date systems in sectors such as healthcare. The Sante PACS Server vulnerabilities point to several key issues that need addressing:
1. The Risk of Stack-Based Buffer Overflows:
The stack-based buffer overflow in CVE-2025-2263 is a textbook example of how improperly managed memory can lead to severe exploits. Even though buffer overflows have been a known issue for decades, this vulnerability highlights how the persistence of such flaws in modern systems remains a serious threat. Attackers can gain full control over a server if they exploit this flaw, demonstrating the importance of secure coding practices, such as bounds checking and safe memory management.
2. Weak Cryptographic Practices in Healthcare Systems:
The truncation of SHA1 hashes in CVE-2025-2265 further underscores a critical issue in the healthcare IT sector: the continued reliance on outdated cryptographic algorithms. SHA1, once a widely trusted hashing method, is now known to be weak against modern attacks like collision finding. The use of such weak cryptographic methods in sensitive environments, such as medical systems, compromises the integrity of patient data and makes healthcare organizations a prime target for attackers.
3. Inadequate Input Validation:
The path traversal vulnerability (CVE-2025-2264) and the uninitialized pointer issue (CVE-2025-2284) both showcase the failure of proper input validation mechanisms. The lack of strict input sanitation leaves systems exposed to common web vulnerabilities, such as directory traversal and DoS attacks. These types of vulnerabilities are preventable by following best practices for input validation, ensuring that only valid and expected data is processed by the server.
4. The Need for a Proactive Security Posture:
With the rapid pace at which cyber threats evolve, healthcare organizations must adopt a proactive approach to security. This means not only responding quickly to known vulnerabilities but also investing in continuous monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and timely patch management. The patch released by Santesoft to address these vulnerabilities is an essential step, but healthcare institutions must also ensure that their systems are constantly reviewed and hardened against new and emerging threats.
The lesson here is clear: Healthcare IT systems, which store and process sensitive medical data, are frequent targets for cybercriminals. The need for robust, up-to-date security measures is more pressing than ever to protect both patient information and the integrity of critical healthcare services.
Fact Checker Results
- CVE-2025-2263 (Stack-Based Buffer Overflow) is a severe vulnerability with the potential for remote code execution, affecting many Sante PACS Server instances.
- CVE-2025-2264 (Path Traversal) enables attackers to retrieve sensitive files from the system, which could lead to data breaches.
- CVE-2025-2265 (SHA1 Hash Truncation) allows attackers to quickly compromise user accounts by exploiting weak password hashes, highlighting poor cryptographic practices.
References:
Reported By: https://cyberpress.org/sante-pacs-vulnerabilities/
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