CVE-2019-15563 in WebAPI
Summary
by MITRE
Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) WebAPI before 2.7.2 allows SQL injection in FeatureExtractionService.java.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15563 affects the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) WebAPI component, specifically targeting versions prior to 2.7.2. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes the system to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. The OHDSI WebAPI serves as a critical interface for healthcare data analysis and research, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive patient information. The vulnerability resides within the FeatureExtractionService.java file, which is responsible for processing feature extraction requests in healthcare data analysis workflows.
The technical flaw manifests as a SQL injection vulnerability that occurs when user input is improperly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. This allows attackers to manipulate the underlying SQL commands executed by the WebAPI, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even execute administrative commands on the database server. The vulnerability specifically affects the feature extraction service, which is commonly used in healthcare research applications where complex data queries are performed to identify patient characteristics and treatment outcomes. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input parameters that bypass normal input validation mechanisms and inject arbitrary SQL commands into the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to extensive healthcare databases containing personally identifiable information and protected health information. Organizations relying on OHDSI WebAPI for research purposes face significant regulatory and compliance risks, particularly under healthcare data protection regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. The vulnerability's exploitation could result in data breaches affecting thousands of patients, leading to potential legal consequences, financial penalties, and damage to organizational reputation. Additionally, the compromised system could serve as a foothold for further attacks within the organization's network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of the patched version 2.7.2 or later, which addresses the SQL injection flaw through proper input sanitization and parameterized query implementation. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls, database activity monitoring, and regular security assessments of their healthcare data systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a common attack vector that falls under the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. System administrators should also consider implementing least privilege access controls and regular security training for personnel working with healthcare data systems to minimize potential exploitation risks.