CVE-2022-2729 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE • 08/09/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - DOM in GitHub repository openemr/openemr prior to 7.0.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2729 represents a cross-site scripting flaw located within the Document Object Model of the openemr medical records management system. This issue affects versions prior to 7.0.0.1 and specifically targets the DOM-based XSS category which is particularly dangerous because it executes malicious scripts within the victim's browser context without requiring server-side processing. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data that flows through the DOM, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that can persist and execute in the context of other users' sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-controllable parameters within the client-side JavaScript code. When user input is directly incorporated into DOM operations without proper sanitization or encoding, attackers can manipulate the application's behavior to execute arbitrary scripts. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and more precisely maps to CWE-939 which deals with web applications that do not properly validate or sanitize input before using it in DOM operations. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious URLs or forms that, when executed by a victim's browser, trigger the XSS payload through DOM manipulation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant within healthcare environments where openemr systems are deployed. An attacker could potentially execute malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. Given that openemr is used for managing sensitive patient health information, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to medical records, data exfiltration, and potential compromise of patient privacy. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that even if server-side input validation is properly implemented, client-side code can still be exploited to bypass these protections. This creates a particularly challenging scenario for defenders as the attack surface extends beyond traditional server-side input validation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to version 7.0.0.1 or later where the XSS flaws have been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices across all client-side JavaScript code that processes user input. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being used in DOM operations. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Security teams should also conduct regular security assessments of client-side code to identify similar vulnerabilities and establish secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the integrity of the medical records management system.