CVE-2018-15149 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in interface/forms/eye_mag/php/Anything_simple.php from library/forms.inc in versions of OpenEMR before 5.0.1.4 allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the 'encounter' parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the openemr medical records system affecting versions prior to 5014. The vulnerability exists within the eye_mag module's php interface file anything_simplephp which processes user input through the encounter parameter. An authenticated attacker with access to the system can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of the encounter parameter, allowing malicious sql code to be injected and subsequently executed by the database engine. This vulnerability directly maps to cwe-89 sql injection as defined by the common weakness enumeration catalog and falls under the attack technique t1071.008 application layer protocol tunneling within the attack technique framework. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can manipulate database contents, potentially altering patient records or gaining unauthorized access to sensitive medical information. The vulnerability affects the authentication boundary since it requires prior system access but does not require elevated privileges beyond normal user accounts. The exposure occurs within the library/formsinc component which handles various form processing functionalities in the openemr system. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where patient confidentiality and data integrity are paramount. The vulnerability allows for potential data exfiltration, data manipulation, and unauthorized access to protected health information. Organizations using affected versions should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to version 5014 or later. The remediation involves proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Security controls should include regular vulnerability assessments and input sanitization measures to protect against similar issues. The attack surface expands when considering that authenticated users can leverage this vulnerability, making it a significant concern for healthcare organizations that rely on openemr for patient data management. Proper security configuration and access controls become essential mitigations while the primary fix involves implementing secure coding practices throughout the application codebase. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date medical software systems and following security best practices for healthcare information systems. This issue highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including sql injection vulnerability assessments in healthcare applications. The affected component represents a common pattern in web applications where form processing modules fail to properly validate user input before database operations. Organizations should implement web application firewalls and database activity monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and regular security audits in medical software development environments where patient data protection is critical.