CVE-2023-1059 in Doctors Appointment System
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SourceCodester Doctors Appointment System 1.0. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /admin/doctors.php of the component Parameter Handler. The manipulation of the argument search leads to sql injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-221824.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2025
This critical sql injection vulnerability exists in the SourceCodester Doctors Appointment System version 1.0 within the admin section of the application. The flaw is located in the parameter handler component of the /admin/doctors.php file where the search parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into database queries. The vulnerability represents a classic sql injection attack vector that allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication or prior access to the system. Attackers can manipulate the search parameter to inject malicious sql code that can be executed by the database engine, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is actively being exploited in the wild, making it particularly dangerous for organizations running affected versions of the application. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can target the system from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or network proximity. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects the administrative interface of a healthcare appointment system, which likely contains sensitive patient information and medical records. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate parameter handling within the application's backend code. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may leverage the exposed web interface to execute their malicious payloads. The lack of proper sanitization of user input in the search parameter directly violates fundamental security principles for web application development. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in complete database compromise, allowing attackers to extract all patient records, modify appointment data, or even delete critical information. Organizations using this application should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and web application firewalls to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates the potential for severe impact on system integrity, confidentiality, and availability, particularly in healthcare environments where data protection is paramount. This represents a significant risk to patient privacy and could potentially violate healthcare data protection regulations such as HIPAA requirements. The public disclosure of the exploit code increases the likelihood of widespread exploitation across unpatched systems. Security teams should prioritize patching this vulnerability as a matter of urgency and implement monitoring for suspicious database activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the need for regular security assessments of web applications. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability scans and penetration testing to identify similar issues in their web applications and ensure proper input validation mechanisms are in place to prevent sql injection attacks. The attack vector demonstrates how seemingly simple parameter handling can create critical security weaknesses that expose sensitive data and compromise system integrity.