CVE-2018-15141 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal in portal/import_template.php in versions of OpenEMR before 5.0.1.4 allows a remote attacker authenticated in the patient portal to delete arbitrary files via the "docid" parameter when the mode is set to delete.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
This vulnerability exists in the OpenEMR patient portal component where the import_template.php script fails to properly validate user input when processing the "docid" parameter in delete mode. The flaw represents a classic directory traversal vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers to manipulate file system operations beyond their intended scope. The vulnerability specifically affects OpenEMR versions prior to 5.0.1.4, making it a critical concern for organizations running outdated deployments. The issue stems from insufficient input sanitization and validation mechanisms that should have prevented arbitrary file deletion operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the patient portal authentication mechanism to escalate privileges within the file system operations. When an attacker successfully authenticates to the patient portal, they can manipulate the docid parameter to construct malicious file paths that bypass normal access controls. This allows the attacker to delete files that they would not normally have permission to access, potentially leading to data destruction, system compromise, or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires only valid patient portal credentials to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where patient portal access is widely distributed.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for healthcare organizations utilizing OpenEMR systems. The ability to delete arbitrary files through the patient portal interface could result in loss of critical patient data, disruption of medical services, or potential compliance violations under healthcare regulations such as HIPAA. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges beyond standard patient portal authentication, making it accessible to attackers who may have obtained legitimate patient credentials through phishing or other social engineering attacks. Organizations may experience service disruption, data recovery costs, and potential regulatory penalties if such attacks are successful.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-22 Directory Traversal and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it requires legitimate patient portal credentials to execute. Additionally, it relates to T1485 Data Destruction and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the attack chain involves manipulating file system operations through the web application interface. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to OpenEMR version 5.0.1.4 or later, implementing input validation controls for the docid parameter, and restricting file system permissions for the patient portal application. Network segmentation and monitoring of unusual file deletion patterns within the patient portal environment can also provide early detection capabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the healthcare information system infrastructure.