Full Report
View CSAF 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CVSS v4 9.4 ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely Vendor: Baxter Equipment: Welch Allyn Configuration Tool Vulnerability: Insufficiently Protected Credentials 2. RISK EVALUATION Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to the unintended exposure of credentials to unauthorized users. 3. TECHNICAL DETAILS 3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS The following Baxter (formerly Hillrom and Welch Allyn) products, are affected: Welch Allyn Product Configuration Tool: Versions 1.9.4.1 and prior 3.2 Vulnerability Overview 3.2.1 INSUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED CREDENTIALS CWE-522 Any credentials that were used for authentication or input while using the Welch Allyn Configuration Tool have the potential to be compromised and should be changed immediately. CVE-2024-5176 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.6 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L). A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-5176. A base score of 9.4 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:H/SI:H/SA:L). 3.3 BACKGROUND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Healthcare and Public Health COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: United States 3.4 RESEARCHER Baxter reported this vulnerability to CISA. 4. MITIGATIONS Baxter has found no evidence to date of any compromise of personal or health data. Baxter will release a software update for all impacted software to address this vulnerability. A new version of the product that mitigates the vulnerability will be available as follows: Welch Allyn Product Configuration Tool versions 1.9.4.2: Available Q3 2024 No user action will be required once the update is released. Baxter recommends the following workarounds to help reduce risk: Apply proper network and physical security controls. The Welch Allyn Configuration Tool has been removed from public access. Customers are advised to contact Baxter Technical Support or their Baxter Project Manager to create configuration files, as needed. Baxter Technical Support can be reached at (800)535-6663, option 2. CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability, such as: Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet. Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks. When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as the connected devices. CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures. CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies. CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets. Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies. Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents. No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time. 5. UPDATE HISTORY May 30, 2024: Initial Publication
Analysis Summary
# Vulnerability: Insufficiently Protected Credentials in Baxter Welch Allyn Configuration Tool
## CVE Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2024-5176
- CVSS Score: 9.4 (Critical based on v4) / 9.6 (Critical based on v3.1)
- CWE: Insufficiently Protected Credentials (Inferred from description)
## Affected Systems
- Products: Welch Allyn Product Configuration Tool (Baxter/formerly Hillrom and Welch Allyn)
- Versions: Versions 1.9.4.1 and prior
- Configurations: N/A
## Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability concerns the failure to adequately protect credentials used for authentication or input within the Welch Allyn Configuration Tool. Successful exploitation could lead to the unintended exposure of these credentials to unauthorized users. Any credentials used to authenticate or input data while using the affected tool versions should be considered compromised and must be changed immediately.
## Exploitation
- Status: No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported.
- Complexity: Low (Inferred from CVSS vector: Attack Complexity (AC) is Low, Network accessibility (AV:N))
- Attack Vector: Network
## Impact
- Confidentiality: High (C:H in CVSS v3.1; VC:H, SC:H, SI:H in CVSS v4)
- Integrity: High (I:H in CVSS v3.1; VI:H in CVSS v4)
- Availability: Low (A:L in CVSS v3.1/v4)
## Remediation
### Patches
- Welch Allyn Product Configuration Tool version 1.9.4.2: Available Q3 2024. (Note: No manual user action will be required once the update is released.)
### Workarounds
1. **Immediate Credential Change:** Immediately change any credentials that were used for authentication or input while using the affected tool versions.
2. **Access Restriction:** The Welch Allyn Configuration Tool has been removed from public access. Customers are advised to contact Baxter Technical Support or their Project Manager to create necessary configuration files.
3. **Network Security:** Apply proper network and physical security controls. Minimize network exposure for all control system devices, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet.
4. **Isolation:** Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolate them from business networks.
5. **Secure Remote Access:** When remote access is required, use secure methods like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), ensuring VPN software is fully updated.
## Detection
- Indicators of Compromise: Potential unauthorized access to systems or services where credentials from the configuration tool were reused.
- Detection Methods and Tools: Monitor network traffic around control systems for anomalous connection attempts. Implement CISA recommended defensive measures for ICS environments, including Defense-in-Depth strategies.
## References
- Vendor Advisory/Information: [View CSAF](hxxps://github.com/cisagov/CSAF) (Initial Publication: May 30, 2024)
- Relevant links - defanged:
- CISA ICS Webpage: cisa.gov/topics/industrial-control-systems
- Defense-in-Depth PDF: us-cert.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/recommended_practices/NCCIC_ICS-CERT_Defense_in_Depth_2016_S508C.pdf
- Proactive Defense PDF: cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Cybersecurity_Best_Practices_for_Industrial_Control_Systems.pdf
- Detection Strategies TIP: cisa.gov/uscert/ics/tips/ICS-TIP-12-146-01B