CVE-2022-22296 in Hospitals Patient Records Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/24/2022
Sourcecodester Hospital's Patient Records Management System 1.0 is vulnerable to Insecure Permissions via the id parameter in manage_user endpoint. Simply change the value and data of other users can be displayed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2022
The CVE-2022-22296 vulnerability affects the Sourcecodester Hospital Patient Records Management System version 1.0, exposing a critical insecure permissions flaw that fundamentally undermines the system's access control mechanisms. This vulnerability exists within the manage_user endpoint where the system fails to properly validate user input through the id parameter, creating a direct path for unauthorized data access. The flaw represents a classic authorization bypass issue that allows attackers to manipulate the id parameter and gain visibility into other users' sensitive medical records, effectively breaking the system's fundamental security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control checks within the application's backend logic. When the manage_user endpoint processes requests, it accepts the id parameter directly without performing proper authentication verification or authorization checks to ensure the requesting user has legitimate access to the specified record. This design flaw aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and specifically manifests as an authorization bypass vulnerability. The system's failure to implement proper session management and user context validation creates an exploitable condition where any authenticated user can manipulate the id parameter to retrieve data belonging to other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it compromises the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive patient information within a healthcare environment. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access complete medical histories, personal identification details, treatment records, and other protected health information without proper authorization. This unauthorized access creates significant risks for both patients and healthcare providers, potentially leading to identity theft, medical fraud, and violations of privacy regulations such as HIPAA. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the system's ability to enforce user-specific data access controls, making it a critical security weakness that directly impacts the system's compliance with healthcare data protection standards.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for initial access through credential compromise and T1078 for valid account use. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise since it involves simple parameter manipulation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by both skilled attackers and casual threat actors. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input validation, enforcing robust access control checks, and implementing role-based access controls that verify user permissions before processing any data retrieval requests. Additionally, the system should incorporate proper session management, implement logging and monitoring of access patterns, and ensure that all user interactions with sensitive data are properly authenticated and authorized. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input sanitization and access control implementation in healthcare applications where data protection is paramount.