CVE-2022-25491 in HMS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/15/2022
HMS v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the editid parameter in appointment.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25491 represents a critical security flaw in HMS v1.0 medical appointment management system where a SQL injection vulnerability exists through the editid parameter in the appointment.php script. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. The issue arises when user input from the editid parameter is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database operations through crafted input.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the editid parameter in appointment.php, allowing them to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. This type of injection attack can potentially lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete database compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the absence of proper parameterized queries or prepared statements in the application's database interaction logic. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive patient information, modify appointment records, or potentially escalate privileges within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns as it threatens the confidentiality and availability of medical appointment data within the HMS system. Healthcare organizations relying on this platform face significant risks including patient privacy breaches, compliance violations under regulations such as HIPAA, and potential operational disruptions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of appointment management, which could lead to appointment scheduling conflicts, unauthorized access to medical records, and overall system reliability issues. Furthermore, successful exploitation could provide attackers with a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25491 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. The recommended approach involves replacing direct SQL query concatenation with prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL code from user input. Additionally, input sanitization measures including whitelisting of acceptable input values and comprehensive output encoding should be implemented. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046 which addresses network service scanning that may precede such attacks. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while ensuring compliance with security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 for secure software development practices.