CVE-2018-15719 in Open Dental
Summary
by MITRE
Open Dental before version 18.4 installs a mysql database and uses the default credentials of "root" with a blank password. This allows anyone on the network with access to the server to access all database information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2020
This vulnerability exists in Open Dental software prior to version 18.4 where the application automatically installs a mysql database instance and configures it with default administrative credentials consisting of the username "root" and an empty password. The flaw represents a critical security misconfiguration that violates fundamental principles of secure system design and access control. The default credential configuration creates an easily exploitable attack vector that allows any network-connected attacker to gain immediate administrative access to the database without requiring any authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the software's failure to properly secure database initialization procedures. When Open Dental installs the mysql database component, it defaults to using the root account with no password, which is a well-documented security weakness that aligns with CWE-798 - Use of Hard-coded Credentials. This hard-coded credential approach eliminates any form of proper authentication and authorization, making the database completely accessible to anyone who can establish network connectivity to the server hosting the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to all database information stored within the Open Dental system. This includes patient records, appointment schedules, treatment histories, billing information, and other sensitive healthcare data that would typically be protected under privacy regulations such as HIPAA. The vulnerability enables unauthorized data access, potential data manipulation, and could lead to complete system compromise if attackers can leverage this access to escalate privileges or move laterally within the network infrastructure.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage the default administrative credentials to establish persistent access to the database. The attack surface is minimal since no specialized tools or complex exploitation techniques are required - simply network access to the server hosting the vulnerable Open Dental installation. Organizations using affected versions of Open Dental face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory violations, and potential legal consequences due to the exposure of sensitive medical information.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of strong authentication controls by changing the default database credentials to complex passwords, disabling unnecessary database access, and implementing network segmentation to restrict access to database servers. Regular security audits should verify that default configurations have been properly addressed, and system administrators should implement proper credential management practices. Additionally, organizations should ensure timely software updates and patches are deployed to address known vulnerabilities in third-party applications, particularly those that handle sensitive data and contain default security configurations that could be easily exploited by threat actors.