CVE-2018-14801 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Before May 2018, the Philips PageWriter TC10, TC20, TC30, TC50, TC70 Cardiographs had a vulnerability where an individual with the superuser password and physical access could gain unauthorized entry into the device, allowing them to modify settings and reset passwords.

Understanding CVE-2018-14801

This CVE relates to the use of hard-coded credentials in Philips PageWriter TC10, TC20, TC30, TC50, TC70 Cardiographs.

What is CVE-2018-14801?

This vulnerability in the Philips PageWriter Cardiographs allowed unauthorized access to the device through hard-coded credentials, compromising device security.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14801

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with physical access and the superuser password to manipulate device settings and reset passwords, potentially leading to unauthorized access and misuse of the device.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14801

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Philips PageWriter TC10, TC20, TC30, TC50, TC70 Cardiographs allowed individuals with the superuser password and physical access to gain unauthorized entry, enabling them to modify device settings and reset passwords.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: PageWriter TC10, TC20, TC30, TC50, TC70 Cardiographs
Vendor: Philips
Versions Affected: All versions prior to May 2018

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with the superuser password and physical access could exploit the hard-coded credentials to access and manipulate device settings, as well as reset passwords.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the affected devices to versions released after May 2018 to eliminate the hard-coded credentials vulnerability.
Restrict physical access to the devices to prevent unauthorized individuals from exploiting the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong password policies and avoid using default or hard-coded credentials.
Regularly monitor and audit device access to detect any unauthorized activities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Philips to address the vulnerability and enhance device security.