CVE-2022-1177 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE • 03/30/2022
Accounting User Can Download Patient Reports in openemr in GitHub repository openemr/openemr prior to 6.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1177 represents a critical access control flaw within the openemr electronic health record system, specifically affecting versions prior to 6.1.0. This issue arises from insufficient authorization checks that allow users with accounting roles to bypass normal security boundaries and access patient medical records. The flaw exists within the system's permission model where accounting users can exploit a weakness in the report generation functionality to download sensitive patient information without proper authentication or authorization. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege that should govern access to protected health information within healthcare systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the report download functionality. When accounting users attempt to access patient reports through the system's API endpoints or web interface, the application fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to view the specific patient data. This weakness can be exploited through direct API calls or by manipulating web requests to bypass the normal authorization flow. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be triggered without requiring elevated privileges or advanced technical knowledge, making it particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where patient confidentiality is paramount. This flaw directly relates to CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential access through exploitation of application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it compromises the integrity of the entire patient data protection framework within openemr installations. Healthcare organizations using affected versions face significant regulatory compliance risks under HIPAA and other healthcare data protection standards, as unauthorized access to patient medical records constitutes a serious breach of privacy. The vulnerability enables potential data exfiltration, identity theft, and medical fraud scenarios where accounting personnel could access sensitive information such as diagnoses, treatments, medications, and personal health details. Organizations may also face legal consequences, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage from such unauthorized data access. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate user roles within the system, making detection more difficult and potentially allowing attackers to remain undetected while accessing sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1177 require immediate implementation of the official patch released with openemr version 6.1.0, which addresses the authorization bypass through enhanced access control checks. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify all instances of affected software versions and implement mandatory updates across their healthcare IT infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to critical healthcare applications, deploying robust monitoring systems to detect unauthorized access attempts, and conducting regular security audits of user permissions and access logs. Security teams should also establish strict role-based access controls and ensure that accounting users have access only to the minimum necessary data required for their job functions. Organizations must also consider implementing data loss prevention tools and continuous monitoring solutions to detect and prevent unauthorized data access patterns that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated systems to ensure that legitimate functionality remains intact while the security vulnerability is properly addressed.