CVE-2023-1063 in Doctors Appointment System
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2023
A vulnerability has been found in SourceCodester Doctors Appointment System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin/patient.php of the component Parameter Handler. The manipulation of the argument search leads to sql injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-221827.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2023
This critical vulnerability exists in the SourceCodester Doctors Appointment System version 1.0 where an SQL injection flaw has been identified in the admin panel's patient management functionality. The vulnerability specifically resides in the parameter handler component within the /admin/patient.php file, making it a direct attack vector for malicious actors targeting the system's administrative interface. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the search parameter through direct input manipulation, which then gets improperly processed and executed as part of database queries without adequate sanitization or validation measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic SQL injection attack pattern where user-supplied input flows directly into SQL query construction without proper parameterization or input filtering. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious SQL payloads that can manipulate the database structure, extract sensitive information, modify records, or even gain elevated privileges within the system. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from external networks without requiring physical access to the system, significantly expanding the potential attack surface and impact scope.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to patient data integrity and system security within healthcare environments. The exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to confidential patient records, medical histories, appointment schedules, and potentially personal identification information, violating privacy regulations and healthcare data protection standards. The disclosed exploit status in VDB-221827 indicates that malicious actors have already developed working attack vectors, making immediate remediation essential to prevent data breaches and maintain system integrity.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries to prevent the injection of malicious SQL code. Additionally, network segmentation, web application firewalls, and regular security audits should be deployed to monitor and protect against similar vulnerabilities in healthcare applications. The system should also undergo comprehensive security testing to identify and remediate other potential injection points that may exist within the application's codebase.