CVE-2024-7752 in Clinics Patient Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2024
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Clinics Patient Management System 1.0. It has been classified as problematic. This affects an unknown part of the file /update_medicine.php. The manipulation of the argument medicine_name leads to cross site scripting. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7752 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the SourceCodester Clinics Patient Management System version 1.0. This system, designed for healthcare facilities to manage patient records and medical data, contains a security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically resides in the /update_medicine.php file, which processes medical data updates and manages pharmaceutical information within the clinical environment. The affected parameter medicine_name serves as the entry point for malicious input that can be exploited to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the web application's medicine management functionality. When users submit medicine names through the update_medicine.php interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters in the medicine_name parameter before rendering it back to the user interface. This classic input sanitization failure creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious script payloads that execute in the browser context of authenticated users. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a Cross-Site Scripting flaw, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be initiated remotely without requiring any special privileges or authentication, making it accessible to any attacker with knowledge of the vulnerable system.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7752 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the clinical environment. Attackers could potentially steal user sessions, redirect patients to phishing sites, modify medical records, or even access sensitive patient data through session hijacking techniques. The healthcare context amplifies the severity of this vulnerability since medical information is highly sensitive and protected under regulations such as HIPAA in the united states. The fact that this exploit has been disclosed to the public means that threat actors can readily implement attacks against vulnerable systems without requiring advanced technical skills. This disclosure significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where patient data integrity and system security are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7752 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input in the medicine_name parameter before processing or displaying it within the web interface. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding, using secure input validation libraries, and applying Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only authorized medical personnel can access critical functions within the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly in healthcare applications where security breaches can have life-threatening consequences. Regular security audits, input validation testing, and maintaining updated software versions are essential measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in clinical management systems.