CVE-2021-38754 in Hospital Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2021
SQL Injection vulnerability in Hospital Management System due to lack of input validation in messearch.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2021
The CVE-2021-38754 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within a hospital management system that exposes sensitive patient and administrative data. This vulnerability specifically resides in the messearch.php file, which serves as a search functionality component for medical records and patient information. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing it within database queries. As a result, malicious actors can exploit this weakness by injecting crafted sql commands through the search interface, potentially gaining unauthorized access to confidential medical information including patient records, treatment histories, and personal identifiers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with common sql injection attack patterns and maps directly to CWE-89, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands. The vulnerability operates by bypassing normal input sanitization checks and directly injecting malicious sql payloads into the search parameter. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized data extraction, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the system. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can compromise the integrity and availability of critical healthcare information systems, potentially affecting patient care and medical decision-making processes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to healthcare organizations due to the sensitive nature of the data involved. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that hospital management systems typically contain extensive databases of protected health information that must comply with regulations such as hipaa. The exploitation of CVE-2021-38754 can result in data breaches that violate patient privacy, lead to regulatory penalties, and compromise the organization's reputation. Additionally, the vulnerability may enable attackers to gain deeper access to the underlying database infrastructure, potentially leading to further system compromise and lateral movement within the network.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. Organizations must ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized and validated before being processed by database systems. Implementing proper web application firewalls and sql injection detection mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection. The remediation process should include immediate code review and patching of the messearch.php file to enforce proper input validation, while also establishing comprehensive testing procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other system components. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments in healthcare information systems, as outlined in the mitre attack framework's approach to identifying and addressing common application-level threats.