CVE-2024-4294 in Doctor Appointment Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/28/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHPGurukul Doctor Appointment Management System 1.0. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /doctor/view-appointment-detail.php. The manipulation of the argument editid leads to improper control of resource identifiers. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-262226 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2025
This critical vulnerability in PHPGurukul Doctor Appointment Management System version 1.0 represents a significant security flaw that could enable unauthorized access to sensitive patient data and system resources. The vulnerability specifically affects the /doctor/view-appointment-detail.php file where improper handling of the editid parameter creates a resource identifier control issue that allows attackers to manipulate system functionality. The flaw falls under the category of improper control of resource identifiers, which is classified as CWE-258 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, representing a fundamental weakness in resource management that can lead to privilege escalation and data exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the editid parameter processing logic. When an attacker provides malicious input through the editid argument, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize this parameter before using it to access appointment records. This lack of proper parameter validation creates an opportunity for attackers to traverse the system's access controls and potentially view, modify, or delete appointment data belonging to other users. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, as they can leverage the vulnerability through web-based attacks that target the exposed web application interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access issues, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the healthcare management system. Attackers could potentially access sensitive patient medical information, manipulate appointment schedules, or even create fraudulent appointments that could disrupt healthcare delivery services. This vulnerability directly violates the principles of least privilege and proper access control that are essential for healthcare information systems. The disclosure of the exploit to the public community means that this vulnerability is no longer a theoretical threat but an active risk that organizations using this system must address immediately. The attack vector through the web interface makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with knowledge of the target system's URL structure.
Organizations utilizing this system should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization measures to prevent improper parameter handling, along with comprehensive access controls that enforce proper authentication and authorization protocols. The implementation of proper parameter validation techniques, such as input filtering and whitelisting, can prevent malicious editid values from being processed by the system. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which emphasize the need for proper input validation and resource management in web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification as critical underscores the urgency of remediation efforts and demonstrates the potential for significant harm to both system integrity and patient privacy if left unaddressed.