CVE-2014-8071 in OpenMRS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in OpenMRS 2.1 Standalone Edition allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) givenName, (2) familyName, (3) address1, or (4) address2 parameter to registrationapp/registerPatient.page; the (5) comment parameter to allergyui/allergy.page; the (6) w10 parameter to htmlformentryui/htmlform/enterHtmlForm/submit.action; the (7) HTTP Referer Header to login.htm; the (8) returnUrl parameter to htmlformentryui/htmlform/enterHtmlFormWithStandardUi.page or (9) coreapps/mergeVisits.page; or the (10) visitId parameter to htmlformentryui/htmlform/enterHtmlFormWithSimpleUi.page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The CVE-2014-8071 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting OpenMRS 2.1 Standalone Edition, a widely used open-source medical records system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's web interfaces, creating multiple attack vectors that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The flaw specifically targets several key parameters across different endpoints, demonstrating a systemic weakness in the application's security architecture that requires comprehensive remediation approaches. The vulnerability impacts the core functionality of patient registration, allergy management, and form processing within the medical records system, potentially compromising the integrity of sensitive healthcare data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves several distinct attack vectors that exploit the application's failure to properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them in web responses. The givenName, familyName, address1, and address2 parameters in the registrationapp/registerPatient.page endpoint represent classic reflected XSS vulnerabilities where malicious input can be directly injected into the application's response without proper encoding or validation. Similarly, the comment parameter in allergyui/allergy.page and the w10 parameter in htmlformentryui/htmlform/enterHtmlForm/submit.action demonstrate how form fields can become conduits for malicious script execution. The HTTP Referer Header vulnerability in login.htm and the returnUrl parameter in htmlformentryui/htmlform/enterHtmlFormWithStandardUi.page highlight how server-side headers and redirect parameters can be manipulated to inject malicious content. The visitId parameter in htmlformentryui/htmlform/enterHtmlFormWithSimpleUi.page further illustrates how even seemingly innocuous parameters can become attack surfaces when not properly validated.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8071 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. This vulnerability could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites that could harvest sensitive healthcare information. The exposure of patient registration data through address fields creates particular concern given the sensitive nature of medical information, while the ability to inject scripts into allergy management systems could compromise critical patient safety data. The cumulative effect across multiple endpoints increases the attack surface and makes successful exploitation more likely, as attackers can leverage any of the identified vectors to gain unauthorized access to the system.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs, including the specific parameters mentioned in the vulnerability description. Input sanitization should be applied at multiple layers including client-side validation, server-side filtering, and proper HTML encoding of all output. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parameters and endpoints. The application should also implement proper session management and authentication mechanisms to limit the impact of successful XSS attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks, emphasizing the need for layered defensive measures that address both the immediate vulnerability and broader security architecture weaknesses.