CVE-2022-2493 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE • 07/22/2022
Data Access from Outside Expected Data Manager Component in GitHub repository openemr/openemr prior to 7.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2493 represents a critical data access issue within the openemr repository that affects versions prior to 7.0.0. This security flaw resides in the data management architecture of the open source electronic medical records system, where unauthorized data access can occur from components that fall outside the expected data manager boundaries. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms that allow malicious actors to bypass normal data access protocols and retrieve sensitive patient information.
This vulnerability specifically manifests as a failure in the data manager component's ability to properly validate data access requests originating from external sources. The flaw allows for unauthorized data retrieval through improper boundary checks that should normally restrict access to authorized components only. The issue is classified as a weakness in the data manager's access control implementation, which can be mapped to CWE-284 Access Control Issues, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions. The vulnerability essentially creates a pathway for data leakage that bypasses the expected security boundaries of the system's data management architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-2493 is severe for healthcare organizations utilizing the openemr system, as it directly compromises patient data confidentiality and integrity. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive medical information, personal health records, and other protected health information without proper authorization. This vulnerability particularly affects the system's ability to maintain data isolation and access control, creating opportunities for data exfiltration that could lead to identity theft, medical fraud, and regulatory violations under healthcare data protection laws such as HIPAA. The flaw represents a significant risk to the privacy and security of patient information within healthcare environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to openemr version 7.0.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and access control mechanisms. Additional security measures should include network segmentation to isolate the medical records system, implementing strict firewall rules to restrict data access, and conducting thorough access control reviews. The remediation process should also involve monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing comprehensive logging of data access activities. Security teams should consider adopting the ATT&CK framework's data access tactics to understand potential attack vectors and implement appropriate defensive measures. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure the integrity of data access controls and prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the system's architecture.