CVE-2025-2229 Overview
CVE-2025-2229 documents a cryptographic weakness in which an authentication token is generated from a username, the current date and time, and a fixed AES-128 encryption key. The same key ships across all installations, eliminating the per-deployment entropy that token-based authentication relies on. The flaw is tracked under CWE-1391: Use of Weak Credentials and was published in the CISA Medical Advisory ICSMA-25-072-01 covering Philips products. An attacker with knowledge of the shared key can forge valid tokens for any account.
Critical Impact
A single recovered key compromises authentication across every installation of the affected product, allowing attackers to impersonate users and bypass identity controls.
Affected Products
- Philips product covered by CISA advisory ICSMA-25-072-01 (see Philips Security Advisories)
- Specific product versions: refer to vendor advisory
- Deployments using the shared hardcoded AES-128 key
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-13 - CVE-2025-2229 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-2229
Vulnerability Analysis
The affected software constructs authentication tokens by encrypting a payload that contains the username and the current timestamp under a fixed AES-128 key. Because the key is identical across every installation, the cryptographic boundary that should separate one customer's tokens from another's does not exist. An attacker who extracts the key from one device, binary, or installer can decrypt or generate tokens for every other deployment of the product.
The attack vector is local, which constrains remote exploitation but does not eliminate impact. Service technicians, insiders, or any actor with access to the binary can recover the key through static analysis. Once the key is known, token forgery requires only the target username and a chosen timestamp.
Root Cause
The root cause is the use of hardcoded cryptographic material as authentication credentials, classified under [CWE-1391]. AES-128 itself is sound, but its security model assumes that keys are secret and unique per trust boundary. Embedding the same key into every shipped artifact converts the encryption operation into an obfuscation step that any reverse engineer can undo.
Attack Vector
An attacker first obtains the AES-128 key by extracting it from the application binary, configuration file, or memory of an installed instance. The attacker then assembles a token payload using a valid username and a current timestamp, encrypts it with the recovered key, and submits the forged token to the authentication interface. The server accepts the token because it decrypts correctly under the shared key and contains a fresh timestamp.
No verified proof-of-concept code is published. Detailed mechanics are described in the CISA Medical Advisory ICSMA-25-072-01.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-2229
Indicators of Compromise
- Authentication events for privileged accounts originating from hosts or workstations that have not previously authenticated as that user
- Successful logins with token timestamps that do not align with corresponding session establishment events on the network
- Repeated authentication attempts using valid usernames from unexpected local processes or service accounts
Detection Strategies
- Correlate token-based logins with prior interactive authentication of the same account to surface tokens issued without a real login event
- Inspect application logs for sessions whose token issuance time is inconsistent with documented session start time
- Baseline normal authentication patterns per user and alert on deviations such as new source hosts or off-hours activity
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward authentication and session logs from the affected Philips product to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation
- Monitor file integrity on the application binaries and configuration stores that contain cryptographic material
- Track local process access to the application directory, especially read operations performed by non-administrative users
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-2229
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the vendor-supplied update referenced in Philips Security Advisories as soon as it is available for your product version
- Restrict physical and network access to affected systems to authorized clinical and administrative personnel only
- Audit existing accounts and rotate credentials for any account that may have been exposed through token forgery
Patch Information
Philips publishes remediation guidance through its security advisory portal. Review the entry corresponding to ICSMA-25-072-01 on the Philips Security Advisories page and follow the upgrade or configuration instructions for your specific product version. CISA's ICSMA-25-072-01 bulletin summarizes recommended defensive measures for healthcare delivery organizations.
Workarounds
- Isolate affected devices on a dedicated network segment with strict ingress and egress controls
- Enforce multi-factor authentication on any upstream identity provider that fronts the affected application
- Disable or constrain local accounts that are not required for clinical operations and log all access to the application host
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
