CVE-2019-3963 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE
In OpenEMR 5.0.1 and earlier, controller.php contains a reflected XSS vulnerability in the patient_id parameter. This could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of a user's session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3963 affects OpenEMR version 5.0.1 and earlier, representing a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the controller.php script. This vulnerability specifically targets the patient_id parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious input manipulation. The flaw resides in how the application processes and reflects user-supplied data without adequate sanitization or output encoding, creating an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed within the victim's browser context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the OpenEMR application framework. When the patient_id parameter is passed to controller.php, the system fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before returning it in the HTTP response. This allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code through the patient_id parameter, which then gets reflected back to the user's browser when the page is rendered. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload must be delivered via a crafted URL or link, typically through social engineering tactics such as phishing emails or compromised web pages.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to healthcare organizations utilizing affected OpenEMR versions. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could execute arbitrary code within the context of an authenticated user's session, potentially gaining access to sensitive patient data, modifying medical records, or performing unauthorized administrative actions. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to execute, as it relies on standard XSS exploitation techniques that have been well-documented in cybersecurity literature. The vulnerability can lead to data breaches, privacy violations, and potential compliance violations under healthcare regulations such as HIPAA, making it particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where patient confidentiality is paramount.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 related to spearphishing attacks that often leverage XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in URL query strings or form submissions. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to OpenEMR version 5.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, using proper input sanitization libraries, and conducting regular security assessments can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Network monitoring and web application firewalls can also provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting this specific flaw.