CVE-2022-34945 in Pharmacy Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2022
Pharmacy Management System v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the startDate parameter at getproductreport.php.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2022
The Pharmacy Management System version 1.0 contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for healthcare organizations relying on this software. This vulnerability exists within the getproductreport.php endpoint where the startDate parameter is improperly handled, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution process. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and sanitization practices that are commonly exploited in database-oriented attacks. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command strings without proper escaping or parameterization. This weakness creates an attack surface that can be exploited by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive patient pharmacy data, medication records, and inventory management information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential system compromise and regulatory violations. Attackers can leverage this SQL injection flaw to extract confidential information including patient medical histories, prescription details, and pharmaceutical inventory data. The vulnerability enables unauthorized database access that could lead to data manipulation, deletion, or unauthorized privilege escalation within the pharmacy management system. Security researchers have identified that this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting database communication protocols. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal skill to exploit and can be automated using standard penetration testing tools. The vulnerability affects organizations using the specific version of the Pharmacy Management System, creating widespread risk across healthcare facilities that have not updated to patched versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the software to address the SQL injection flaw in the getproductreport.php endpoint. Organizations must implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent future occurrences of similar vulnerabilities. The recommended approach includes deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the affected parameter. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential injection points within the pharmacy management system and related applications. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the vulnerable system to unauthorized users. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be performed to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process must also include proper application logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can alert administrators to suspicious SQL query patterns and unauthorized access attempts. Compliance with healthcare security standards including hipaa security rule requirements becomes critical as this vulnerability could result in regulatory penalties and legal consequences for data breaches.