CVE-2018-15151 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in interface/de_identification_forms/find_code_popup.php in versions of OpenEMR before 5.0.1.4 allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the 'search_term' parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2023
The CVE-2018-15151 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the OpenEMR healthcare information system that affects versions prior to 5.0.1.4. This vulnerability exists in the de_identification_forms/find_code_popup.php interface component, which serves as a popup window for searching medical codes during data de-identification processes. The flaw specifically targets the search_term parameter, which is improperly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of sql injection, representing a well-established and dangerous class of vulnerability that has been consistently ranked among the top security risks in the OWASP top ten. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the system, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated user submits malicious input through the search_term parameter in the find_code_popup.php interface. The application fails to properly escape or parameterize user input before executing database queries, allowing attackers to inject malicious sql commands that can manipulate the database directly. This flaw enables attackers to perform unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations against the underlying mysql database. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where sensitive patient data is stored, as successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, privacy violations, and compliance failures under regulations such as hipaa. The attack follows standard sql injection patterns where malicious payloads can include union select statements, boolean based payloads, or time-based techniques to extract database information or execute arbitrary commands.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-15151 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to gain deeper system access and potentially compromise the entire healthcare information system. In healthcare settings, this vulnerability could allow attackers to access patient medical records, treatment histories, prescription data, and other sensitive health information, leading to serious privacy violations and potential identity theft. The vulnerability also poses significant business continuity risks as it could enable data manipulation that affects patient care delivery and medical record integrity. Organizations using affected OpenEMR versions face potential regulatory penalties under hipaa and other healthcare privacy regulations, along with reputational damage from data breach incidents. The vulnerability can also serve as a stepping stone for attackers to escalate privileges within the system or move laterally to other connected systems, making it a critical concern for healthcare organizations with interconnected medical information systems.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2018-15151 involve immediate patching of OpenEMR installations to version 5.0.1.4 or later, which includes proper input validation and parameterized query implementations. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as input sanitization, output encoding, and proper access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring of database access patterns can help detect unusual activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review and implement proper web application firewalls to filter malicious sql injection payloads and establish regular vulnerability assessment programs to identify similar issues in other healthcare applications. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability is fully resolved without introducing new issues that could impact critical healthcare operations. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date medical information systems and implementing comprehensive security measures to protect sensitive patient data from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.