CVE-2018-17181 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

OpenEMR prior to version 5.0.1 Patch 7 is vulnerable to SQL Injection in the SaveAudit and portalAudit functions.

Understanding CVE-2018-17181

This CVE identifies a SQL Injection vulnerability in OpenEMR versions before 5.0.1 Patch 7.

What is CVE-2018-17181?

The vulnerability is specifically related to SQL Injection in the SaveAudit function in /portal/lib/paylib.php and the portalAudit function in /portal/lib/appsql.class.php.

The Impact of CVE-2018-17181

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute malicious SQL queries, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or data exfiltration.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-17181

OpenEMR versions before 5.0.1 Patch 7 are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

SQL Injection vulnerability in the SaveAudit and portalAudit functions.

Affected Systems and Versions

OpenEMR versions prior to 5.0.1 Patch 7.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can inject malicious SQL queries through the vulnerable functions to manipulate or access sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update OpenEMR to version 5.0.1 Patch 7 or later to mitigate the SQL Injection vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and audit SQL queries for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL Injection attacks.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by OpenEMR to address known vulnerabilities.