CVE-2023-2943 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE • 05/28/2023
Code Injection in GitHub repository openemr/openemr prior to 7.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2943 represents a critical code injection flaw discovered within the openemr healthcare management system repository prior to version 7.0.1. This issue affects the openemr open source electronic health record system that is widely deployed in healthcare organizations globally. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's code execution pathways, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary code into the system. The affected repository demonstrates a classic code injection vulnerability that can be leveraged to execute unauthorized commands on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration.
This vulnerability operates through improper handling of user-supplied input that flows directly into code execution contexts without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw likely exists in areas where the application processes external data inputs such as API requests, form submissions, or parameter handling within the web application framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that bypasses normal validation checks and gets executed as part of the application's code flow. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-94 category of "Improper Control of Generation of Code" which specifically addresses situations where applications fail to properly control code generation or execution, making it particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where sensitive patient data is processed. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted payloads through HTTP requests that trigger the vulnerable code paths, allowing for remote code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-2943 extends beyond simple system compromise to encompass significant data security and privacy risks within healthcare organizations. Given that openemr systems handle highly sensitive patient health information, successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to medical records, patient demographics, treatment histories, and other protected health information. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can be exploited repeatedly by attackers, potentially leading to long-term unauthorized access and data breaches. Healthcare organizations relying on affected versions face regulatory compliance risks under HIPAA and other data protection frameworks, as unauthorized access to health records constitutes a serious violation of patient privacy and organizational security policies. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where openemr systems are directly exposed to internet-facing services or integrated with other healthcare applications and databases.
Organizations utilizing the openemr system prior to version 7.0.1 should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation approach involves upgrading to version 7.0.1 or later, which includes patched code validation and sanitization mechanisms that prevent malicious input from being executed as code. Additionally, implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls and ingress/egress filtering can provide temporary protection while upgrades are being deployed. Security configurations should include disabling unnecessary services, implementing strict input validation at multiple layers, and conducting thorough code reviews of custom extensions or modifications to the openemr platform. Organizations should also establish monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous system behavior or unauthorized access patterns. The mitigation strategy should align with NIST cybersecurity frameworks and include incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle code injection attacks in healthcare environments. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of implemented controls and to identify any additional vulnerabilities that may exist within the healthcare information technology infrastructure.