CVE-2022-1178 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE • 03/30/2022
Stored Cross Site Scripting in GitHub repository openemr/openemr prior to 6.0.0.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2022
The stored cross site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1178 affects the openemr repository version prior to 6.0.0.4, representing a critical security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. This vulnerability resides within the repository's handling of user input and data persistence mechanisms, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The flaw specifically manifests when user-supplied data is stored in the system and subsequently rendered without adequate sanitization or escaping mechanisms, allowing malicious code to execute in the context of other users' browsers.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-0000079 category, which classifies stored cross site scripting as a form of injection attack where malicious scripts are stored on the server and executed when other users access the affected application. The technical implementation of this flaw involves insufficient input validation and output encoding within the repository's data processing pipeline. When legitimate users interact with the application, the stored malicious payloads are executed in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized data manipulation. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that once injected, the malicious scripts remain stored within the application's database or file system until actively removed or the application is updated.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1178 extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to maintain access to compromised systems. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including user profile modifications, comment fields, or any input mechanism where data is stored and later displayed to other users. The stored nature of the attack means that the malicious code executes automatically whenever affected users access the vulnerable application, making it particularly dangerous for healthcare environments where openemr is commonly deployed. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be leveraged to escalate privileges, steal sensitive medical data, or manipulate patient records, which directly violates healthcare data protection regulations and poses significant compliance risks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application of the security patch released in version 6.0.0.4 of the openemr repository, which implements proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including web application firewalls, regular security scanning, and comprehensive input validation across all user-facing application components. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all data persistence mechanisms and implementation of automated testing procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle cross site scripting attacks in healthcare environments. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 emphasizes the importance of network security monitoring and the need for robust detection capabilities to identify and respond to exploitation attempts before they can cause significant damage to patient data or system integrity.