CVE-2022-2734 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE • 08/09/2022
Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames in GitHub repository openemr/openemr prior to 7.0.0.1.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2734 represents a critical flaw in the openemr medical records system where improper restriction of rendered UI layers or frames exists in versions prior to 7.0.0.1. This issue stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user-provided content within the web interface rendering pipeline, creating a potential attack vector that could allow malicious actors to manipulate the visual presentation layer of the application. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of UI elements that are dynamically rendered based on user input or data from external sources, which could be exploited to inject malicious content into the application's visual interface.
This security weakness falls under the category of improper restriction of rendered UI layers, which can be classified as a variant of CWE-79 Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and potentially related to CWE-93 Improper Neutralization of Data within UI Layers. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the visual representation of the application by injecting malicious code into UI elements that are subsequently rendered to end users. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate data that is used to construct UI components, allowing crafted input to be interpreted and executed as part of the rendering process rather than being treated as pure data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant within healthcare environments where openemr systems are deployed, as it could enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could potentially inject malicious JavaScript code that executes within the context of the victim's browser session, allowing for the theft of sensitive patient information, modification of medical records, or redirection to phishing sites that appear legitimate to healthcare staff. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in healthcare settings where medical records contain highly sensitive personal health information that could be exploited for identity theft or insurance fraud.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables the execution of malicious JavaScript code within the browser context of legitimate users. The attack chain typically involves an attacker identifying a vulnerable input field or parameter that is used in UI rendering, crafting malicious input that includes JavaScript code, and then persuading a victim to interact with the affected application. The vulnerability could be exploited through various vectors including web forms, API endpoints, or even through maliciously crafted URLs that contain the malicious payload.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-2734 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 7.0.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly restrict rendered UI layers and implement proper input sanitization. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to ensure that all user-provided data is properly sanitized before being rendered in the UI. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application context. Regular security audits and penetration testing of the application's UI rendering components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that might exist in other parts of the system. The implementation of web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms can also help detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this type of vulnerability.