Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
DCMTK is open-source software widely used by hospitals and imaging vendors to handle medical imaging (DICOM) data. A flaw in its dcmqrscp storage server lets a logged-in local user crash or potentially manipulate the program by abusing a storage-quota setting. The vendor fixed it in DCMTK 3.6.6, so upgrading resolves the issue.
Executive priority
Schedule as routine patching. The flaw is medium severity, requires local access, and a vendor fix exists. Prioritize healthcare imaging or PACS-adjacent systems where DCMTK is in production, but no emergency response is indicated by the public sources.
Technical view
A stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121/CWE-119) in the parseQuota function of dcmqrscp in DCMTK versions 3.6.0 through 3.6.5 can be triggered by manipulating the StorageQuota argument. CVSS 3.1 is 5.3 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) reflecting local access and low privileges. Public exploit material is referenced. Patch commit 0fef9f02e ships in DCMTK 3.6.6.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments running DCMTK's dcmqrscp DICOM storage/query-retrieve service where untrusted local users can influence configuration or invoke the binary. Most risk lies in healthcare imaging gateways, PACS test systems, and research workstations using DCMTK 3.6.5 or earlier.
Exploitation context
Not listed in CISA KEV. Sources note the exploit has been publicly disclosed and may be used, but no in-the-wild campaigns are cited. Attack vector is local with low privileges and no user interaction, limiting remote mass-exploitation but enabling insider or post-compromise abuse.
Researcher notes
CWE-121 stack overflow in parseQuota; CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L with E:P/RL:O/RC:C indicates proof-of-concept exists, official remediation is available, and confirmation is high. No KEV entry. Validate by diffing against upstream commit 0fef9f02e and check downstream distros and embedded medical-device firmware that may lag behind 3.6.6.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade DCMTK to version 3.6.6 or later, which contains patch commit 0fef9f02e.
- Restrict local access to systems running dcmqrscp to trusted administrators only.
- Tighten file and configuration permissions on dcmqrscp StorageQuota inputs.
- Inventory imaging gateways and embedded products that bundle DCMTK and confirm vendor patch status.
- Monitor dcmqrscp processes for unexpected crashes or restarts.
Validation and detection
- Run dcmqrscp --version and compare against 3.6.6 or later on each host.
- Search software inventories and SBOMs for DCMTK components below 3.6.6.
- Check vendor advisories for medical imaging products that embed DCMTK.
- Confirm patch commit 0fef9f02e is present in any locally built DCMTK binaries.
- Review local account access and sudo rights on hosts running dcmqrscp.
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-119: 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 lookupCWE-121: 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-2020-36855 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P/RL:O/RC:C1.83.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- VDB-329028 | DCMTK dcmqrscp parseQuota stack-based overflowCVE reference · vdb-entry, technical-description
- VDB-329028 | CTI Indicators (IOB, IOC, IOA)CVE reference · signature, permissions-required
- Submit #673137 | DCMTK GitHub Repository DCMTK 3.6.5 Stack-based Buffer OverflowCVE reference · third-party-advisory
- https://shimo.im/docs/rp3OMVMDPKtjn0km/CVE reference · exploit
- https://shimo.im/docs/rp3OMVMDPKtjn0km/readCVE reference · exploit
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.