CVE-2022-36544 in edoc-doctor-appointment-system
Summary
by MITRE • 08/27/2022
Edoc-doctor-appointment-system v1.0.1 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the id parameter at /patient/booking.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36544 affects the Edoc-doctor-appointment-system version 1.0.1, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the application to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. This medical appointment management system, designed for patient booking and doctor scheduling, contains a SQL injection vulnerability that directly impacts its database security and data integrity. The flaw manifests through the id parameter within the /patient/booking.php endpoint, which processes patient booking requests and likely retrieves patient information from a backend database. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input, potentially allowing them to extract sensitive patient information, modify appointment records, or even escalate privileges within the system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that this is a healthcare management system, where patient data protection is paramount and subject to strict regulatory compliance requirements such as HIPAA in the United States.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user input passed through the id parameter. When a user submits a booking request or accesses booking information through the /patient/booking.php page, the application directly incorporates the id value into SQL queries without adequate input filtering or parameterization. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code that can manipulate the database query execution flow. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specific payloads that, when submitted through the id parameter, cause the database to execute unintended commands. The operational impact extends beyond simple data retrieval, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data modification, deletion, or even database schema enumeration. The vulnerability's location within the patient booking functionality makes it particularly dangerous since it directly impacts patient appointment management and could be used to disrupt healthcare services or gain access to sensitive medical records. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005, which describes application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web application vulnerabilities.
The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in significant operational and compliance consequences for healthcare organizations. Patient booking systems typically contain sensitive personal health information, appointment schedules, and demographic data that requires protection under privacy regulations. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to patient records, appointment manipulation, or disruption of healthcare services. The vulnerability's presence in a medical appointment system creates additional risk as it could be used to interfere with patient care scheduling or access confidential health information. Organizations using this system face potential regulatory penalties, data breach notifications, and reputational damage if such vulnerabilities are exploited. The impact extends to business continuity as healthcare providers rely on these systems for patient management and appointment coordination. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks, particularly in environments where healthcare information systems are deployed and must comply with strict regulatory requirements. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and parameterized queries in web applications, especially those handling sensitive data. Mitigation efforts should focus on implementing proper input sanitization, using prepared statements or parameterized queries, and conducting regular security assessments of healthcare information systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.
The remediation of CVE-2022-36544 requires immediate implementation of secure coding practices and comprehensive security testing of the affected application. Organizations should prioritize updating to a patched version of the Edoc-doctor-appointment-system if available, or implementing proper input validation and parameterized query usage in the /patient/booking.php endpoint. The solution must address the root cause by ensuring all user inputs are properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries, implementing proper access controls, and conducting thorough security testing including penetration testing and code reviews. Security measures should include input validation at multiple layers, including client-side and server-side validation, to prevent malicious input from reaching the database layer. Additionally, organizations should implement database activity monitoring and logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding guidelines and principles such as those outlined in OWASP Top 10, which specifically addresses injection flaws as one of the most critical web application security risks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of healthcare information systems, as this type of flaw can often be found in legacy applications that have not been properly maintained or updated for security best practices.