CVE-2017-12714 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Abbott Laboratories pacemakers manufactured before August 28, 2017, are vulnerable to an issue that allows attackers to drain the battery by sending RF wake-up commands.

Understanding CVE-2017-12714

This CVE involves a vulnerability in pacemakers manufactured by Abbott Laboratories.

What is CVE-2017-12714?

Pacemakers made before August 28, 2017, lack restrictions on RF wake-up commands, enabling attackers in close proximity to drain the battery by sending continuous commands.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12714

The severity of this vulnerability is rated 5.3 on the CVSS v3 scale. An attacker can reduce the pacemaker's battery life by sending commands. Abbott has released a firmware update to address this issue.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12714

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves improper restriction of power consumption, allowing attackers to drain the pacemaker's battery.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Accent/Anthem, Accent MRI, Assurity/Allure, and Assurity MRI
Vendor: Abbott Laboratories
Versions: All versions of pacemakers manufactured before August 28, 2017

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the lack of restrictions on RF wake-up commands to continuously drain the pacemaker's battery.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting against CVE-2017-12714 is crucial for ensuring the security of affected pacemakers.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the firmware update provided by Abbott Laboratories to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual behavior or battery drainage that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update pacemaker firmware to address potential vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls to prevent unauthorized access to the pacemaker.

Patching and Updates

Ensure all pacemakers are updated with the latest firmware to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.