CVE-2023-40945 in Doctor Appointment System
Summary
by MITRE • 09/11/2023
Sourcecodester Doctor Appointment System 1.0 is vulnerable to SQL Injection in the variable $userid at doctors\myDetails.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2026
The CVE-2023-40945 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Sourcecodester Doctor Appointment System version 1.0, specifically targeting the doctors\myDetails.php component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the $userid variable, which is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms. The flaw exists in the application's backend data handling logic where user-supplied input is blindly concatenated into database queries, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database structure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for the $userid parameter that contains SQL payload sequences designed to alter the intended query execution flow. This allows unauthorized individuals to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the database server, potentially gaining read access to sensitive information including patient records, doctor credentials, and administrative data. The vulnerability specifically impacts the system's authentication and authorization mechanisms, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to escalate privileges or bypass access controls entirely. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, which is a well-documented weakness in database query construction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized modification of critical healthcare information. In a medical appointment system context, this poses severe risks to patient privacy and data integrity, potentially violating healthcare regulations such as HIPAA requirements for protected health information protection. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious commands that might delete or corrupt database entries, modify appointment schedules, or even establish persistent backdoors within the system. The vulnerability's exploitation is relatively straightforward, requiring minimal technical expertise to execute successful attacks against unpatched systems.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through proper input validation, parameterized queries, and the implementation of prepared statements throughout the application codebase. The recommended mitigation strategies include applying input sanitization filters to all user-supplied parameters, implementing proper database access controls with least privilege principles, and conducting comprehensive code reviews to identify similar patterns across the application. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application, and T1071.005: Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it involves exploitation of web application interfaces to gain unauthorized access to backend database systems. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other components of the healthcare information system infrastructure.