CVE-2021-25921 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

OpenEMR versions 2.7.3-rc1 to 6.0.0 are vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site-Scripting (XSS) due to improper user input validation in the

Allergies

section. An attacker could exploit this by tricking an admin to enter a malicious payload.

Understanding CVE-2021-25921

This section provides detailed insights into the CVE-2021-25921 vulnerability in OpenEMR.

What is CVE-2021-25921?

In OpenEMR, versions 2.7.3-rc1 to 6.0.0 are susceptible to Stored Cross-Site-Scripting (XSS) because of inadequate validation of user input in the

Allergies

section. This could enable an attacker to execute malicious scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2021-25921

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it allows attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts in the context of an admin user, potentially leading to data theft or unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-25921

This section dives into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-25921.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper validation of user input in the

Allergies

section, enabling stored Cross-Site-Scripting attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

OpenEMR versions 2.7.3-rc1 to 6.0.0 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this issue by enticing an admin user to input a malicious script into the

Allergies

section, which gets stored and executed when accessed.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover how to address and safeguard against CVE-2021-25921.

Immediate Steps to Take

Admins should validate and sanitize user inputs, particularly in vulnerable sections like

Allergies

, to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices, conduct regular security assessments, and educate users about safe data input to reduce XSS risks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure OpenEMR is updated to the latest version to mitigate the XSS vulnerability and other potential security risks.