CVE-2024-51132 in FHIR
Summary
by MITRE • 11/05/2024
An XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in HAPI FHIR before v6.4.0 allows attackers to access sensitive information or execute arbitrary code via supplying a crafted request containing malicious XML entities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-51132 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within the HAPI FHIR framework prior to version 6.4.0. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-611, which specifically addresses improper restriction of XML external entity reference. The XXE vulnerability arises from the framework's insufficient validation of XML input, allowing malicious actors to manipulate XML parsers through crafted requests containing malicious entity declarations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the HAPI FHIR server processes XML requests without proper sanitization of external entity references. Attackers can construct malicious XML payloads that reference external resources, enabling them to perform various malicious activities including information disclosure, server-side request forgery, and potentially remote code execution depending on the underlying system configuration. The vulnerability specifically affects the XML parsing mechanisms used by the framework when handling FHIR resources, which are commonly exchanged in healthcare data interchange scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to access sensitive healthcare information stored within systems using HAPI FHIR. In healthcare environments, this could lead to breaches of patient confidentiality and compliance violations under regulations such as HIPAA. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution makes it particularly dangerous in environments where the FHIR server has access to backend systems or databases. Additionally, the attack surface is broad as any application using HAPI FHIR for processing XML-based FHIR resources becomes vulnerable.
Organizations using affected versions of HAPI FHIR should immediately upgrade to version 6.4.0 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing proper XML input validation, disabling external entity resolution, and employing secure XML parsing configurations. Security measures should include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block XXE attack patterns, restricting network access to FHIR endpoints, and conducting regular security assessments of XML processing components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Service) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell) when exploited for remote code execution, highlighting the multi-stage nature of attacks that can leverage such vulnerabilities.