Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Some Hospira infusion pumps can allow anyone who can reach Telnet on Port 23 to gain root-level access by default. That could let an unauthorized user issue commands to the pump. This is operationally serious because the affected assets are clinical devices, but the source bundle does not provide CVSS, active exploitation, or detailed patch information.
Executive priority
Prioritize quickly if affected pumps are still in service. The business concern is not broad IT compromise alone; it is unauthorized command capability against infusion systems. Validate exposure and close Telnet before routine maintenance windows where feasible.
Technical view
CVE-2015-3954 affects Hospira Plum A+ Infusion System <=13.4, Plum A+3 <=13.6, and Symbiq <=3.13. The flaw is unauthenticated root privileges over Port 23/TELNET by default, mapped to CWE-285. Hospira recommends closing Port 23/TELNET. The source states Plum 360 is not vulnerable.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where affected Hospira infusion pumps remain deployed and Port 23/TELNET is reachable. Risk depends on whether clinical networks allow unauthenticated access to those devices. The bundle does not identify internet exposure counts or deployment prevalence.
Exploitation context
The source says an unauthorized user could issue commands to the pump. KEV is false in the bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. Treat this as a serious reachable-device risk, not a confirmed exploited-in-the-wild issue.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and ICS advisory reference in the bundle. No CVSS vector, exploit details, patch version, or active exploitation evidence is provided. Avoid expanding affected products beyond the three named Hospira systems.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Hospira Plum A+, Plum A+3, and Symbiq pumps and record versions.
- Close Port 23/TELNET on affected devices, as Hospira recommends.
- Confirm Plum 360 devices are separated from affected-model tracking because the source says they are not vulnerable.
- Ask Hospira or the current vendor channel for supported remediation or replacement guidance.
Validation and detection
- Identify devices running Plum A+ <=13.4, Plum A+3 <=13.6, or Symbiq <=3.13.
- Verify Port 23/TELNET is closed or unreachable for affected pumps.
- Confirm no unauthenticated administrative access remains available through Telnet.
- Document compensating controls and unresolved devices for clinical engineering review.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-285: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2015-3954 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-15-161-01CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Authorization
Improper Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.