CVE-2018-10593 in DB Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in DB Manager version 3.0.1.0 and previous and PerformA version 3.0.0.0 and previous allows an authorized user with access to a privileged account on a BD Kiestra system (Kiestra TLA, Kiestra WCA, and InoqulA+ specimen processor) to issue SQL commands, which may result in data corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10593 represents a significant security flaw in BD Kiestra's database management systems, specifically affecting DB Manager version 3.0.1.0 and earlier, as well as PerformA version 3.0.0.0 and earlier. This issue impacts critical laboratory automation systems including Kiestra TLA, Kiestra WCA, and InoqulA+ specimen processors, which are widely deployed in healthcare and research environments for automated sample processing and data management. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege escalation mechanisms within the database management interface, creating a path for authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper access controls and SQL injection safeguards within the database management layer of these systems. An authorized user possessing a privileged account can leverage their existing credentials to issue malicious SQL commands that bypass normal database security boundaries. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-89, specifically categorized as SQL Injection, where the system fails to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into database queries. The flaw allows for direct database command execution, potentially enabling data manipulation, unauthorized data access, or complete database corruption depending on the privileges of the compromised account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to encompass potential system compromise and regulatory compliance violations within healthcare environments. Laboratory information systems containing sensitive patient data, research specimens, and proprietary research findings become vulnerable to unauthorized data modification or corruption. Attackers could potentially alter test results, manipulate sample tracking data, or disrupt the automated workflow processes that these systems manage. The vulnerability particularly affects environments governed by healthcare regulations such as HIPAA, where maintaining data integrity and audit trails is mandatory. Organizations relying on these systems face potential operational disruptions, legal consequences, and reputational damage if such vulnerabilities are exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10593 should prioritize immediate system updates to patched versions of DB Manager and PerformA software releases. Organizations must implement comprehensive access control reviews to ensure that database privileges are strictly limited to essential functions and that least privilege principles are enforced. Network segmentation and database firewalls should be deployed to restrict direct database access from unauthorized network segments. Regular security assessments including penetration testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1046 Network Service Scanning, indicating that exploitation typically requires legitimate credentials and network reconnaissance. System administrators should also implement database activity monitoring and logging to detect anomalous SQL command execution patterns, while maintaining regular backup procedures to ensure data recovery capabilities in case of corruption events.