CVE-2012-4261 in mycare2x
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in modules/patient/mycare2x_pat_info.php in myCare2x allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the lang parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
The CVE-2012-4261 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the myCare2x medical information system, specifically targeting the patient management module. This vulnerability exists in the file modules/patient/mycare2x_pat_info.php and allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands through the lang parameter. The flaw demonstrates a classic input validation failure where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a severe security weakness affecting data integrity and system confidentiality. The myCare2x platform, designed for medical record management, becomes particularly vulnerable as sql injection attacks can potentially compromise patient data, medical histories, and sensitive health information stored within the database.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the lang parameter to inject malicious sql payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the underlying database. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution threat because successful exploitation can enable attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, deletion, and potentially administrative actions. The attack vector leverages the lack of proper input validation and sanitization in the application's parameter handling, allowing attackers to chain sql injection techniques with database exploitation methods. This vulnerability directly maps to the attack pattern described in the attack tree framework where attackers can progress from initial reconnaissance to database compromise through sql injection payloads targeting the application's parameter handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4261 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and regulatory violations. Healthcare organizations utilizing myCare2x face significant risks including patient privacy breaches, compliance failures under hipaa regulations, and potential legal consequences from unauthorized data access. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system. Organizations may experience service disruption, data corruption, and loss of system integrity. The attack surface is particularly concerning for medical institutions where patient safety and data confidentiality are paramount, as compromised systems could lead to unauthorized access to critical medical information, prescription data, and patient records. Security teams must consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks and implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect healthcare data assets.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4261 should prioritize immediate patching of the myCare2x application to address the sql injection vulnerability in the lang parameter handling. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, ensuring all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before database interaction. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application modules. The remediation approach should align with industry best practices for sql injection prevention including the use of prepared statements, stored procedures, and proper database access controls. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures for handling sql injection attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in healthcare applications where the consequences of security breaches can be life-threatening.