CVE-2023-6402 in Nipah Virus Testing Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 11/30/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in PHPGurukul Nipah Virus Testing Management System 1.0. This affects an unknown part of the file add-phlebotomist.php. The manipulation of the argument empid leads to sql injection. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-246423.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6402 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Nipah Virus Testing Management System version 1.0 developed by PHPGurukul. This system is designed for managing laboratory testing operations related to the Nipah virus, making it a critical infrastructure component in healthcare settings. The vulnerability specifically resides in the add-phlebotomist.php file, which handles the addition of phlebotomist personnel records to the system. The flaw occurs when the empid parameter is processed without proper input validation or sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the database query execution flow.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which defines sql injection as a condition where an application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into sql queries. The empid argument serves as the attack vector, where an attacker can manipulate this parameter to execute unauthorized database operations. When the application processes the empid value directly in a sql statement without proper parameterization or escaping, it allows attackers to construct malicious sql payloads that can bypass authentication, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even execute system commands depending on the underlying database system's capabilities. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely, meaning attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to carry out the attack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it could severely disrupt healthcare operations and compromise patient safety. In a healthcare environment where accurate patient and staff information is critical, an attacker could potentially access confidential medical records, manipulate test results, or gain unauthorized access to system administrative functions. The remote exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers can target the system from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly concerning for organizations that may not have robust network segmentation or monitoring in place. The fact that the exploit has been disclosed to the public and is potentially in use increases the urgency for immediate remediation, as threat actors are actively leveraging this weakness.
Organizations utilizing this system should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input sanitization techniques that filter out potentially dangerous characters and sequences before processing user data. Database access should be restricted through proper privilege management, ensuring that application accounts have minimal necessary permissions and cannot execute system-level commands. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for exploitation attempts. The system should also be updated to a patched version if available, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (exploitation of remote services) and T1071.004 (application layer protocol: dns), as attackers may leverage this weakness to establish persistence or escalate privileges within the compromised environment.