CVE-2023-1254 in Health Center Patient Record Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2023
A vulnerability has been found in SourceCodester Health Center Patient Record Management System 1.0 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file birthing_print.php. The manipulation of the argument birth_id leads to cross site scripting. 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-222484.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1254 represents a cross site scripting flaw within the SourceCodester Health Center Patient Record Management System version 1.0. This critical security weakness resides in the birthing_print.php file and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can compromise web application security. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization of the birth_id parameter, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The attack vector is remote, meaning that threat actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system or direct network interaction with the server itself.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic XSS attack pattern where the birth_id parameter serves as the injection point for malicious payloads. When the application processes this parameter without adequate validation or output encoding, it inadvertently renders attacker-controlled scripts within the web page context. This flaw falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through web browsers without requiring any special privileges or local system access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where sensitive patient information is handled.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-1254 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive patient data, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. In healthcare settings, this vulnerability poses significant risks to patient privacy and data integrity, potentially violating regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. The disclosure of this exploit to the public community increases the likelihood of real-world exploitation, as malicious actors can readily implement the attack without requiring advanced technical skills. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack means that it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet, potentially affecting multiple users simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate code-level fix and broader security posture improvements. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly parameters like birth_id that are directly incorporated into web page content. Security measures should include sanitizing input through whitelisting approaches, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and employing proper HTML escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1213, which covers data from information repositories, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the healthcare system's broader attack surface, ensuring that patient records remain protected against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.