CVE-2019-18256

Credential exposure via recoverable on-device storage

Published Jun 29, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Credential exposure in BIOTRONIK CardioMessenger II-S firmware 2.20 allows physically proximate attackers to obtain device credentials. The transmitter stores individual per-device credentials in recoverable form in memory exposed after its housing is opened. Physical possession is required; the credentials support network authentication and decryption of locally intercepted traffic but do not permit implant reprogramming.

CVSS severity4.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Credential exposure in BIOTRONIK CardioMessenger II-S firmware 2.20 allows physically proximate attackers to obtain device credentials. The transmitter stores individual per-device credentials in recoverable form in memory exposed after its housing is opened. Physical possession is required; the credentials support network authentication and decryption of locally intercepted traffic but do not permit implant reprogramming.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-18256
Published
Jun 29, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
BIOTRONIK
Product
CardioMessenger II-S
Classifications
CWE-257, CWE-522, CAPEC-49, T1555
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 29, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=CardioMessenger II-S T-Line T4APP 2.20, CardioMessenger II-S GSM T4APP 2.20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

BIOTRONIK · CardioMessenger II-Sversion=CardioMessenger II-S T-Line T4APP 2.20, CardioMessenger II-S GSM T4APP 2.20

Published CVSS scores

4.6BIOTRONIKCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-257Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format
CWE-522Insufficiently Protected Credentials
CAPEC-49Password Brute Forcing
T1555Credentials from Password Stores

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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