CVE-2022-46497 in Hospital Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2024
Hospital Management System 1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the pat_number parameter at his_doc_view_single_patien.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-46497 represents a critical security flaw within Hospital Management System version 1.0, specifically manifesting as a SQL injection vulnerability. This weakness exists within the web application's handling of patient data through the his_doc_view_single_patien.php script where the pat_number parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the patient number field, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive medical information.
This SQL injection vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws that occur when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The attack vector exploits the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before executing database operations, creating an environment where attackers can manipulate the underlying database structure and access unauthorized information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in healthcare environments where patient data protection is paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data modification, deletion, or extraction of sensitive patient information. Healthcare systems containing patient medical records, personal identification details, treatment histories, and other confidential data are at significant risk when such vulnerabilities exist. The potential for data breaches could result in severe regulatory compliance violations under healthcare privacy laws such as HIPAA, along with substantial financial and reputational damage to healthcare organizations. Attackers could also potentially escalate privileges within the database or gain access to administrative functions through this injection point.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-46497 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. The application code must be updated to use prepared statements or parameterized queries when processing the pat_number parameter, ensuring that user input cannot alter the intended SQL command structure. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization, output encoding, and least privilege database access controls would significantly reduce the attack surface. Regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the healthcare management system. Organizations should also establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of identified security flaws and maintain compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 information security management requirements.