CVE-2022-3956 in HHIMS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2022
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in tsruban HHIMS 2.1. Affected is an unknown function of the component Patient Portrait Handler. The manipulation of the argument PID leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. VDB-213462 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3956 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the tsruban HHIMS 2.1 medical information system, specifically affecting the Patient Portrait Handler component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when processing the Patient Identification (PID) argument, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. The flaw exists in the backend processing logic where user-supplied PID values are directly incorporated into sql commands without proper sanitization or parameterization, making it susceptible to exploitation by unauthorized parties.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user input within the Patient Portrait Handler module, which is responsible for retrieving and displaying patient medical information. When an attacker submits a malformed PID value, the system fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows for sql injection attacks that can potentially execute arbitrary sql commands on the underlying database server. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, as they can leverage network-based attacks to deliver malicious payloads through the web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive patient medical records, modify existing patient data, or even delete critical information. The consequences for healthcare organizations are severe given the sensitivity of medical data and regulatory compliance requirements under frameworks such as hipaa. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges within the database, access additional system resources, or use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the healthcare network. The vulnerability's classification as critical reflects the potential for widespread data compromise and system disruption that could affect patient care and organizational operations.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of vendor-provided patches or updates to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, along with network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar flaws in other components of their healthcare information systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection weaknesses, and may be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, regular security testing, and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.