CVE-2018-17393 in Hospital Management System
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection exists in HealthNode Hospital Management System 1.0 via the id parameter to dashboard/Patient/info.php or dashboard/Patient/patientdetails.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17393 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the HealthNode Hospital Management System version 1.0. This security weakness manifests through the improper handling of user input in the id parameter of two specific PHP scripts: dashboard/Patient/info.php and dashboard/Patient/patientdetails.php. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The affected system processes patient information through these endpoints, making them prime targets for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to sensitive healthcare data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input through the id parameter, which is then directly embedded into SQL queries without proper input validation or parameter binding. This allows attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries and potentially execute arbitrary SQL commands. The impact extends beyond simple data retrieval, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive patient information, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in healthcare environments where patient confidentiality is paramount, as it could lead to unauthorized access to medical records, personal health information, and other sensitive data protected by regulations such as HIPAA.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for healthcare organizations utilizing the affected system. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to patient databases, potentially compromising thousands of medical records and personal identifiers. The vulnerability's presence in patient information management scripts makes it particularly dangerous as it directly targets core healthcare functionalities. Organizations may face significant regulatory penalties, legal consequences, and reputational damage if patient data is compromised through such attacks. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that these endpoints are likely accessible through legitimate administrative interfaces, making detection more difficult for security monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17393 should prioritize immediate implementation of parameterized queries and input validation mechanisms to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques, including the use of prepared statements with parameter binding, to ensure that user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as SQL commands. The system should enforce strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit exposure of vulnerable endpoints. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious activities targeting these specific endpoints. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as those outlined in the ATT&CK framework for database attacks, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities in healthcare information systems.