CVE-2023-2949 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE • 05/28/2023
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Reflected in GitHub repository openemr/openemr prior to 7.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2949 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the openemr repository prior to version 7.0.1. This security weakness resides in the web application's handling of user input parameters, specifically affecting the application's ability to properly sanitize and validate data received from external sources. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability indicates that malicious input is immediately reflected back to users without proper encoding or validation mechanisms, creating an exploitable vector for attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when web applications incorporate user-supplied data directly into web page responses without adequate sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's codebase. When users submit data through web forms or URL parameters, the application fails to properly escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This flaw allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform unauthorized actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary code within the victim's browsing context. The vulnerability specifically impacts the repository's authentication and user interface components where user input is processed and rendered back to the browser without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this reflected XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to user sessions, potentially compromising sensitive medical records and patient data within the openemr system. The vulnerability's presence in a healthcare information management system creates particular risk given the sensitive nature of the data handled by openemr applications. Security researchers have identified that the flaw affects the application's ability to properly handle user input in various web interfaces, making it exploitable across multiple attack vectors including login pages, search functions, and administrative interfaces. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-2949 involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. Organizations should prioritize updating to openemr version 7.0.1 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper sanitization of user input parameters. Additionally, developers should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employ proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and utilize parameterized queries or input sanitization libraries. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews focusing on user input handling, implementation of automated security testing tools, and establishment of secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in the codebase. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing exploitation of reflected XSS flaws, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application exploitation techniques.