CVE-2024-53522 identifies a vulnerability in Bangkok Medical Software's HOSxP XE version 4.64.11.3, where a hardcoded IDEA encryption key and initialization vector (IV) pair are embedded within the HOSxPXE4.exe executable and HOS-WIN32.INI configuration files. IDEA (International Data Encryption Algorithm) is a symmetric-key block cipher used to protect sensitive data. The presence of a hardcoded key-IV pair means that attackers who gain access to these components can decrypt encrypted data without needing additional credentials or user interaction. This vulnerability falls under CWE-331, which relates to the use of insufficiently protected credentials. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, indicating high severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). Although no exploits have been observed in the wild yet, the vulnerability poses a significant risk because medical software often handles highly sensitive patient information. The lack of available patches further complicates remediation efforts, necessitating immediate compensatory controls. The vulnerability was reserved in November 2024 and published in January 2025, reflecting recent discovery and disclosure.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-53522 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive patient information managed by the HOSxP XE medical software. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can decrypt confidential data without authentication, potentially leading to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR), and reputational damage for healthcare providers. Since the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or system availability, the risk is focused on confidentiality breaches. The ease of exploitation over the network without privileges or user interaction increases the threat level, especially in environments where the software is exposed to untrusted networks or insufficiently segmented. The exposure of medical records can also facilitate further attacks such as identity theft, insurance fraud, or targeted phishing campaigns. Healthcare organizations worldwide that rely on HOSxP XE could face significant operational and legal consequences if this vulnerability is exploited.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting network access to systems running HOSxP XE, especially blocking external access to the affected executables and configuration files. 2. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on endpoints hosting the software to detect unauthorized attempts to read or extract the hardcoded keys. 3. Employ network segmentation to isolate medical software systems from general-purpose networks and the internet. 4. Use host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to alert on suspicious file access or process behavior related to HOSxPXE4.exe and HOS-WIN32.INI. 5. Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit using additional layers beyond the vulnerable IDEA encryption to reduce reliance on the compromised key. 6. Engage with the software vendor for timelines on official patches or updates and plan for rapid deployment once available. 7. Conduct regular audits and penetration testing focused on this vulnerability to assess exposure and effectiveness of mitigations. 8. Educate IT and security staff about this specific vulnerability to ensure prompt response to any related incidents.