CVE-2023-37679 in Mirth Connect
Summary
by MITRE • 08/03/2023
A remote command execution (RCE) vulnerability in NextGen Mirth Connect v4.3.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the hosting server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-37679 represents a critical remote command execution flaw in NextGen Mirth Connect version 4.3.0, which fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of user-supplied input in specific API endpoints, creating an avenue for malicious actors to gain unauthorized control over the underlying server infrastructure. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the application user, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in healthcare and enterprise environments where Mirth Connect is commonly deployed for integration and messaging purposes, as they can facilitate data breaches, service disruption, and regulatory compliance violations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's web interface and API handlers. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that bypass security controls and are subsequently processed by the application's command execution mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when user-provided parameters are directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or escaping, creating a classic command injection scenario. This flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, which specifically address command injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is used in command construction without adequate validation. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted HTTP requests to vulnerable endpoints, where the application fails to properly validate or escape user input before using it in system-level operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-37679 extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and exfiltrate sensitive information from the compromised system. Organizations using NextGen Mirth Connect v4.3.0 face potential data breaches, service interruptions, and regulatory penalties if this vulnerability is exploited. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target network, making it particularly attractive for automated attacks. Security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement within networks, as compromised Mirth Connect instances often serve as entry points for broader attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation can also lead to denial of service conditions, system instability, and unauthorized modifications to critical healthcare or enterprise integration workflows.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from NextGen, implementing network segmentation to isolate affected systems, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious requests. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure input validation and the principle of least privilege in application design, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary API endpoints, implementing strict access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of integration platforms. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle command injection vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, emphasizing the need for comprehensive endpoint protection and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent such exploitation patterns.