CVE-2015-4591 in Population Healt
Summary
by MITRE
eClinicalWorks Population Health (CCMR) suffers from a cross site scripting vulnerability in login.jsp which allows remote unauthenticated users to inject arbitrary javascript via the strMessage parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4591 affects eClinicalWorks Population Health CCMR software, specifically targeting the login.jsp component. This cross site scripting flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to execute malicious javascript code within the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the strMessage parameter, creating an opening for malicious code injection that can persist across user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the login.jsp page. When the application processes the strMessage parameter without proper sanitization, it inadvertently renders attacker-controlled javascript code alongside legitimate content. This allows threat actors to craft malicious payloads that can execute in the browser context of unsuspecting users who interact with the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication, making it accessible to any remote user who can access the application's login page.
From an operational perspective, this XSS vulnerability creates significant risk for healthcare organizations utilizing eClinicalWorks Population Health solutions. Attackers could exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject phishing content that appears legitimate to healthcare staff. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could potentially manipulate patient data, disrupt clinical workflows, or establish persistent access points within healthcare networks. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-79, which addresses cross site scripting weaknesses in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for spearphishing attacks through web applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in authentication flows. The application should employ proper HTML escaping mechanisms when rendering the strMessage parameter to prevent javascript execution. Additionally, implementing a content security policy can provide additional protection against malicious script execution. Regular security testing and code reviews should focus on input handling within authentication components to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of securing healthcare applications against common web attacks, as outlined in healthcare security frameworks that emphasize protecting patient data and maintaining system integrity. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter values that could indicate attempted exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.