Flow Neuroscience FL-100
Overview
A serious vulnerability has been found in the Flow Neuroscience FL-100 devices, which could allow attackers within Bluetooth range to manipulate brain stimulation settings. This issue arises from a hard-coded credential that is shared across all affected units, enabling unauthorized access to bypass authentication. The vulnerability impacts both the Flow Neuroscience FL-100 and Halo Neuroscience FL-100, versions released before July 2026. Users are urged to install the latest firmware updates via the Flow app to mitigate this risk. Given the nature of these devices, which are used in healthcare, the implications for patient safety are significant, making immediate action essential to prevent potential exploitation.
Key Takeaways
- Affected Systems: Flow Neuroscience FL-100, Halo Neuroscience FL-100 (versions before July 2026)
- Action Required: Users should install the latest firmware updates provided by Flow Neuroscience via the Flow app.
- Timeline: Disclosed on August 13, 2026
Original Article Summary
View CSAF Summary Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker within Bluetooth range to manipulate brain stimulation parameters and override safety limits. The following versions of Flow Neuroscience FL-100 are affected: Flow Neuroscience FL-100 Halo Neuroscience FL-100 CVSS Vendor Equipment Vulnerabilities v3 8.1 Flow Neuroscience Flow Neuroscience FL-100 Use of Hard-coded Credentials Background Critical Infrastructure Sectors: Healthcare and Public Health Countries/Areas Deployed: Worldwide Company Headquarters Location: Sweden Vulnerabilities Expand All + CVE-2026-18164 An undocumented hard-coded credential, shared by all device units, is authorized to bypass authentication. This allows an attacker within Bluetooth range to arbitrarilymanipulate brain stimulation parameters and state. View CVE Details Affected Products Flow Neuroscience FL-100 Vendor: Flow Neuroscience Product Version: Flow Neuroscience Flow Neuroscience FL-100: <July_2026, Flow Neuroscience Halo Neuroscience FL-100: <July_2026 Product Status: known_affected Remediations Mitigation Users are encouraged to install the latest firmware updates provided by Flow Neuroscience via the Flow app. Relevant CWE: CWE-798 Use of Hard-coded Credentials Metrics CVSS Version Base Score Base Severity Vector String 3.1 8.1 HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H 4.0 7.2 HIGH CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N Acknowledgments A.C. Buglione reported this vulnerability to CISA Legal Notice and Terms of Use This product is provided subject to this Notification (https://www.cisa.gov/notification) and this Privacy & Use policy (https://www.cisa.gov/privacy-policy). Recommended Practices CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet. Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks. When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as the connected devices. CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures. CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies. CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets. Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies. Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents. CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks: Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages. Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams. Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks. No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time. This vulnerability is not exploitable remotely. Revision History Initial Release Date: 2026-08-13 Date Revision Summary 2026-08-13 1 Initial Publication Legal Notice and Terms of Use
Impact
Flow Neuroscience FL-100, Halo Neuroscience FL-100 (versions before July 2026)
Exploitation Status
No active exploitation has been reported at this time. However, organizations should still apply patches promptly as proof-of-concept code may exist.
Timeline
Disclosed on August 13, 2026
Remediation
Users should install the latest firmware updates provided by Flow Neuroscience via the Flow app. Additionally, users are encouraged to minimize network exposure for all control system devices, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet, and to use secure methods for remote access such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Additional Information
This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.
Related Topics: This incident relates to Phishing, CVE, Vulnerability, and 1 more.