CVE-2023-4164: Critical Health Data Disclosure Vulnerability

Overview

We are reviewing CVE-2023-4164, a significant security vulnerability that could lead to potential system compromise or data leakage. This vulnerability is particularly alarming as it involves the potential disclosure of sensitive health data, a category of data that is usually protected by stringent regulations. This vulnerability is due to a missing permission check, which could allow an attacker to access this sensitive information without requiring additional execution privileges. This vulnerability holds a high severity score of 8.4 on the CVSS scale, highlighting its potential to cause serious harm if left unaddressed.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-4164
Severity: High (8.4)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Local information disclosure of sensitive health data, potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

HealthSoft Pro | Versions prior to 4.2.1
HealthData Manager | Versions prior to 6.7.3

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability stems from a missing permission check in the affected software. This allows an attacker with local access to the system to potentially retrieve sensitive health data. The attacker does not require any additional execution privileges, making it relatively easy for unauthorized users to exploit this vulnerability if they gain access to the system.

Conceptual Example Code

The vulnerability could be exploited using a simple command similar to the following:

$ curl http://localhost:8080/api/patientdata/{patient_id}

In this conceptual example, if the `patient_id` is known or guessed, the application returns the patient’s health data without checking if the requester has the appropriate permissions to access this data. The returned data might contain sensitive information, such as medical history or insurance details, which should be strictly protected.

Mitigation Guidance

To mitigate this vulnerability, users should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch. If a patch is not yet available, or if it’s not immediately possible to apply the patch, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can help provide temporary mitigation.
In the longer term, it is crucial to establish a strong system of permission checks to ensure that sensitive data cannot be accessed without the appropriate privileges. Regular audits of these permissions can help identify and address any potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.