CVE-2021-38149 in Patient Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2021
index.php/admin/add_user in Chikitsa Patient Management System 2.0.0 allows XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-38149 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Chikitsa Patient Management System version 2.0.0, specifically affecting the admin user management functionality. This issue resides in the index.php/admin/add_user endpoint which processes user addition requests through the web interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. When administrators or users interact with this particular endpoint, malicious input can be injected and subsequently executed within the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent security risk for the entire system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other executable code within the user addition form fields. The application fails to implement proper HTML escaping or Content Security Policy mechanisms to prevent script execution in the rendered output. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, or without the use of output encoding. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of authenticated users with administrative privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-38149 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation. An attacker with access to the admin interface could inject scripts that capture login credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify user permissions. The vulnerability particularly affects the administrative functions of the Chikitsa system, potentially allowing unauthorized individuals to escalate privileges or gain persistent access to sensitive patient data. This creates a significant risk for healthcare organizations that rely on such systems for patient management, as the attack surface includes not only user accounts but also the integrity of medical records and system configurations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The system must employ comprehensive HTML escaping for all user-supplied data before rendering in web pages, implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and conducting thorough input sanitization. Organizations should also establish regular security testing procedures including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should involve updating the Chikitsa Patient Management System to a patched version that addresses the XSS vulnerability, while also implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks, as the XSS vulnerability can be leveraged to create malicious payloads that trick users into executing harmful code through seemingly legitimate administrative interfaces.