CVE-2024-48657 in Hospital Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2024
SQL Injection vulnerability in hospital management system in php with source code v.1.0.0 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in a hospital management system developed in php with version 1.0.0. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's database interaction mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to manipulate sql queries through crafted user inputs. The vulnerability exists in the system's backend processing logic where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into sql statements without proper escaping or parameterization. This fundamental flaw enables attackers to inject malicious sql code that can be executed by the database server, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive patient data. The vulnerability is classified as a direct instance of cwe-89 sql injection, which is a well-documented weakness in software applications that fail to properly validate or escape user inputs before incorporating them into database queries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This remote code execution capability allows threat actors to escalate privileges, install backdoors, modify or delete critical patient records, and potentially disrupt healthcare operations. In a hospital environment, this could lead to severe consequences including patient safety risks, regulatory violations under hipaa and other healthcare data protection laws, and potential legal ramifications. The vulnerability affects the entire database layer of the system, making it particularly dangerous as it could provide access to all stored information including patient medical histories, treatment records, and administrative data. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no local access or authentication, making it exploitable by remote attackers who can simply craft malicious inputs through web forms or api endpoints.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding to prevent sql injection attacks. The system should be updated to use prepared statements with bound parameters instead of string concatenation for database queries. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input sanitization mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and static code analysis should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout the codebase. The affected system should also implement proper access controls and audit logging to detect unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should follow nist cybersecurity framework guidelines and implement the principle of least privilege to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for secure coding practices and proper security testing in healthcare applications where data breaches can have life-threatening consequences. The attack surface should be reduced through proper input validation and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies that align with the mitre att&ck framework's approach to identifying and mitigating common attack patterns in web applications.