Critical Vulnerabilities in Contec CMS8000 and Epsimed MN-120 Patient Monitors Pose Serious Risks to Patient Safety

2025-02-01

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued a warning about three significant security vulnerabilities affecting the Contec CMS8000 and Epsimed MN-120 patient monitors. These flaws, when exploited, could jeopardize patient safety by exposing critical data and potentially enabling remote access to medical devices. These monitors are manufactured by the China-based company Contec Medical Systems.

The identified vulnerabilities were reported to CISA by an anonymous researcher. These flaws include unauthorized remote control, the existence of a hidden backdoor, and the risk of data exfiltration involving sensitive patient information, such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Protected Health Information (PHI). Here’s a summary of the vulnerabilities in these medical devices.

Vulnerabilities:

CVE-2025-0626 (CVSS score 7.7): A hidden backdoor with a hard-coded IP address that bypasses network settings, enabling remote access and potential file manipulation by attackers.
CVE-2024-12248 (CVSS score 9.3): An out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could allow remote code execution by sending malicious UDP packets.
CVE-2025-0683 (CVSS score 8.2): A privacy leakage flaw that transmits unencrypted patient data to a hard-coded public IP address, exposing it to unauthorized access.

The FDA has confirmed that they are not aware of any attacks exploiting these vulnerabilities or any related incidents at this time. However, CISA has strongly recommended disconnecting affected devices until patches are made available, urging healthcare providers to monitor unusual behavior.

What Undercode Says:

The discovery of these critical vulnerabilities in medical devices highlights a pressing issue within the healthcare industry: the vulnerability of connected medical devices to cyber threats. The CMS8000 and Epsimed MN-120 patient monitors are essential tools in healthcare facilities, and the flaws identified could have far-reaching consequences for both patient safety and privacy.

Hidden Backdoors and Remote Control Risk:

The first vulnerability, CVE-2025-0626, is particularly concerning due to its nature as a hidden backdoor embedded within the device’s firmware. Hard-coded IP addresses for remote access bypass the device’s network settings, which could allow malicious actors to exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized control. This could result in attackers uploading or overwriting files on the device, potentially compromising the device’s functionality and causing harm to patients. Such backdoor vulnerabilities in medical devices are especially troubling as they may go unnoticed for long periods, giving attackers ample time to manipulate device settings or access sensitive information.

Data Exfiltration and Privacy Leaks:

CVE-2025-0683 exposes a serious privacy risk by transmitting plain-text patient data to a hard-coded public IP address. With the rapid integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in medical devices, such vulnerabilities are becoming increasingly common. Data transmission over unsecured channels can lead to sensitive information being intercepted, exposing patients to identity theft or exploitation. The healthcare sector handles a large amount of personally identifiable and health-related information, making it a prime target for cybercriminals. As data breaches become more frequent, these kinds of vulnerabilities undermine the trust placed in healthcare technology by patients and medical providers alike.

Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability:

The second flaw, CVE-2024-12248, presents an out-of-bounds write vulnerability with a high CVSS score of 9.3, indicating that this flaw is severe. Attackers could trigger this vulnerability by sending specially crafted UDP packets to the device. This would allow the execution of arbitrary code, which could compromise the monitor’s integrity. Remote code execution vulnerabilities are often the most dangerous, as they provide attackers with full control over the device, potentially altering its behavior or gaining access to connected systems.

Implications for Healthcare Providers:

The implications of these vulnerabilities are far-reaching. Medical devices, like the CMS8000, are often networked with hospital systems, storing and processing sensitive data about patients. If exploited, these vulnerabilities could not only lead to unauthorized access to critical patient information but could also compromise the functionality of these life-saving devices.

Furthermore, as CISA has recommended, it is crucial for healthcare providers to act swiftly by disconnecting affected devices and monitoring for unusual behavior. While the FDA has not reported any known incidents linked to these vulnerabilities, the risks remain high. It is essential for healthcare organizations to prioritize cybersecurity measures, particularly for devices that are connected to the internet.

Industry Response and Future Challenges:

This issue shines a spotlight on the cybersecurity challenges facing the medical device industry. As medical devices become increasingly connected and integrated into the healthcare system, the risks of cyber threats grow exponentially. Manufacturers must prioritize security during the design and development stages, implementing regular updates and patches to address vulnerabilities as they arise. Additionally, healthcare organizations must invest in robust cybersecurity practices, including regular audits of connected devices, employee training, and the use of encryption to protect patient data.

In conclusion, the vulnerabilities discovered in Contec CMS8000 and Epsimed MN-120 patient monitors are a wake-up call for the healthcare industry. As we move further into the digital age, medical devices must be held to the highest cybersecurity standards to ensure the safety and privacy of patients. With the increasing sophistication of cyber-attacks, proactive and comprehensive security measures will be the only way to safeguard the future of connected healthcare.

References:

Reported By: https://securityaffairs.com/173694/security/cisa-fda-warned-hidden-backdoor-in-contec-cms8000.html
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Wikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.org
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