CVE-2017-11694 in Document Management System
Summary
by MITRE
MEDHOST Document Management System contains hard-coded credentials that are used for Apache Solr access. An attacker with knowledge of the hard-coded credentials and the ability to communicate directly with Apache Solr may be able to obtain or modify sensitive patient and financial information. The Apache Solr account name is dms. The password is hard-coded throughout the application, and is the same across all installations. Customers do not have the option to change passwords. The dms account for Apache Solr has access to all indexed patient documents.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11694 represents a critical security flaw within the MEDHOST Document Management System that exposes sensitive patient and financial data through hard-coded credentials. This issue stems from the application's improper implementation of authentication mechanisms, where the Apache Solr account credentials are embedded directly within the application code rather than being dynamically configured or securely stored. The specific account name 'dms' along with its corresponding password are hardcoded throughout the system, creating a persistent security risk that affects all installations of the software without any option for customer customization or password modification. This design flaw fundamentally violates security best practices and creates an inherent vulnerability that cannot be remediated through standard configuration changes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a clear violation of CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software applications. The flaw allows attackers to directly access Apache Solr services without requiring additional authentication factors or privileged access, as the credentials are readily available within the application's source code or configuration files. This represents a severe authorization bypass vulnerability that operates at the application level, enabling unauthorized access to the entire indexed patient document repository. The fact that the same password is deployed across all installations creates a single point of failure that significantly amplifies the potential impact, as compromising one system immediately provides access to similar credentials on all other systems using the same software version.
From an operational perspective, the vulnerability creates substantial risk for healthcare organizations implementing MEDHOST Document Management System, as the compromised credentials provide access to all indexed patient documents within the Apache Solr database. The attack surface is particularly concerning because Apache Solr serves as a document management and search platform that typically contains highly sensitive information including medical records, treatment histories, and financial data. The lack of password customization options means that organizations cannot implement basic security controls to mitigate this risk, leaving their patient data exposed to potential exploitation by threat actors who may obtain the hard-coded credentials through various means including code analysis, reverse engineering, or public disclosure of the credentials. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of protected health information as defined by HIPAA regulations and similar data protection standards.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental design flaw in the application's credential management system. Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation and access controls to limit direct communication with Apache Solr services, while also considering the deployment of network intrusion detection systems to monitor for unauthorized access attempts. The most effective long-term solution requires the vendor to implement proper credential management practices including dynamic credential generation, secure password storage mechanisms, and the ability for administrators to customize authentication credentials. Security controls should also include regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar hardcoded credentials in other components of the system. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for access control and configuration management, while also aligning with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's techniques for credential access and privilege escalation to ensure comprehensive protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations must also consider the broader implications of this vulnerability on their overall security posture and implement additional safeguards to protect sensitive patient data from unauthorized access and potential data breaches.