CVE-2012-4260 in myCare2x
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in myCare2x allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) aktion or (2) callurl parameter to modules/patient/mycare2x_pat_info.php; (3) dept_nr or (4) pid parameter to modules/importer/mycare2x_importer.php; (5) myOpsEintrag or (6) keyword parameter in a Suchen action to modules/drg/mycare2x_proc_search.php; or (7) name_last or (8) pid parameter to modules/patient/mycare_pid.php.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-4260 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the myCare2x healthcare management system that exposes multiple attack vectors across different modules. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command structures without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected system components include patient information modules, importer functionalities, and diagnostic reporting systems, creating a broad attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise the underlying database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the myCare2x application code. Attackers can manipulate specific parameters in various PHP scripts to inject malicious SQL payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly execute unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability affects multiple parameter names including aktion, callurl, dept_nr, pid, myOpsEintrag, keyword, name_last, and others, demonstrating a systemic code quality issue rather than isolated incidents. These parameters are processed without proper escaping or parameter binding, allowing attackers to inject SQL syntax that can manipulate database queries to extract sensitive information, modify records, or even delete entire database sections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential system takeover. Remote attackers can leverage these injection points to access patient medical records, personal health information, and administrative data that should remain protected under healthcare privacy regulations such as HIPAA. The implications are particularly severe in healthcare environments where unauthorized access to patient data can lead to identity theft, medical fraud, and violation of privacy laws. Additionally, successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges within the database, potentially leading to complete system compromise and persistence mechanisms.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental code quality issues that enabled the injection attacks. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries and prepared statements throughout the application codebase to prevent direct SQL command construction from user input. Input validation and sanitization should be enforced at multiple layers including application-level filters, web application firewalls, and database-level access controls. The principle of least privilege should be applied to database accounts used by the application, limiting their capabilities to only essential operations. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application ecosystem. Additionally, implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help detect and respond to exploitation attempts in real-time. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.1 for application layer protocol usage, highlighting the multi-stage nature of attacks that can leverage such weaknesses to achieve broader system compromise.