# CVE-2018-8856: Hardcoded credentials in e-Alert Unit (non-medical device)

> Attackers can decrypt internal data using hard-coded keys, compromising confidentiality of the Philips e-Alert Unit.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Sep 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rr4p-hprw-ppwf

## What is CVE-2018-8856?

CVE-2018-8856 is a critical vulnerability in Philips e-Alert Unit (non-medical device), published on 26 Sep 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Philips e-Alert Unit (non-medical device), Version R2.1 and prior. The software contains hard-coded cryptographic key, which it uses for encryption of internal data.

Weakness: CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-8856?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Philips E-Alert Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-8856?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-8856 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-8856 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-8856 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Philips e-Alert Unit (non-medical device)

- [CVE-2018-8850](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8850/): Code injection in e-Alert Unit (non-medical device) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-8842](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8842/): Information disclosure in e-Alert Unit (non-medical device) (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-8844](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8844/): Cross-site request forgery in e-Alert Unit (non-medical device) (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-8852](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8852/): Auth bypass in e-Alert Unit (non-medical device) (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-8848](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8848/): Misconfiguration in e-Alert Unit (non-medical device) (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-8856 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-8856 is a critical vulnerability in Philips e-Alert Unit (non-medical device), published on 26 Sep 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-8856 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Philips e-Alert Unit (non-medical device). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8856/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8856/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8856
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8856
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-8856

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8856/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.