CVE-2021-42868 in Patient Management Software
Summary
by MITRE • 03/31/2022
A Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in Chikista Patient Management Software 2.0.2 in the first_name parameter in (1) patient/insert, (2) patient_report, (3) appointment_report, (4) visit_report, and (5) bill_detail_report pages. .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2026
The CVE-2021-42868 vulnerability represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the Chikista Patient Management Software version 2.0.2, specifically targeting the first_name parameter across multiple administrative report pages. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected software components include patient/insert, patient_report, appointment_report, visit_report, and bill_detail_report pages, indicating a widespread impact across the patient management functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's data handling processes, particularly when processing user-supplied first_name values. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious script code through the first_name parameter, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected report pages. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it compromises the integrity of the entire patient management system. When malicious actors successfully inject scripts through the first_name parameter, they can potentially access sensitive patient data, manipulate report displays, and execute unauthorized actions within the application's interface. The vulnerability affects multiple report generation pages, amplifying the attack surface and increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, and T1059.001 for command and control through script injection. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities in web applications means that once exploited, malicious scripts can remain active until the application is restarted or the affected parameters are properly sanitized, creating ongoing security risks for healthcare organizations managing patient data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-42868 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all affected pages. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly the first_name parameter, by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. Application developers should implement proper HTML encoding when displaying user-supplied data in report pages, ensuring that any malicious script content is rendered harmless rather than executable. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed within the application. Organizations should also consider implementing input length restrictions and regular security code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities across other parameters. The remediation process must include thorough testing of all affected report generation functions to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining proper data integrity. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and implement regular vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues from emerging in future software versions.