Philips Healthcare has reported a low-level security issue with its ultrasound scanners that could enable unauthorized personnel to bypass authentication and log in to systems.
In a security alert, the company said that the issue only applies to local access to affected scanners, and it requires a "high skill level" to exploit. If an exploitation does occur, the unauthorized user might be able to enable and access features on the ultrasound scanner that were not included with the purchase of the system.
The company noted that it believes that the vulnerability is not a device safety issue, and it does not believe the security problem is a safety hazard to patients. Philips noted that it hasn't received any reports of the vulnerability being exploited in clinical use.
The company said the vulnerability applies to Ultrasound ClearVue versions 3.2 and prior, Ultrasound CX versions 5.0.2 and prior, Ultrasound Epiq and Affiniti versions VM5.0 and prior, Ultrasound Sparq version 3.0.2 and prior, and Ultrasound Xperius.
Philips said it has released or is planning to release new software updates for the scanners that address the vulnerabilities.
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
