CVE-2020-28402 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in Star Practice Management Web version 2019.2.0.6. The vulnerability stems from improper authorization controls within the application, specifically allowing an unauthorized user to access the Launcher Configuration Panel. This panel likely contains configuration settings that could influence the behavior or security posture of the application. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L). However, it requires low privileges (PR:L), meaning the attacker must have some level of authenticated access but not administrative rights. The impact primarily affects the integrity of the system (I:L), as unauthorized access to configuration settings can lead to unauthorized changes, potentially undermining system operations or security configurations. Confidentiality and availability impacts are not indicated. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.4, reflecting a moderate risk. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches or vendor advisories are currently linked, indicating that organizations may need to implement compensating controls until an official fix is available.

For European organizations using Star Practice Management Web 2019.2.0.6, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized configuration changes that could compromise the integrity of their practice management systems. Such systems often handle sensitive patient and operational data, so unauthorized modifications could lead to misconfigurations, data mishandling, or indirect impacts on data security and compliance with regulations such as GDPR. While confidentiality is not directly impacted, integrity compromises can lead to operational disruptions or facilitate further attacks. The requirement for low-level privileges suggests that insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. This risk is particularly relevant for healthcare providers and associated service organizations in Europe, where healthcare data protection is critical and regulated. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for targeted attacks, especially in environments where this software is widely deployed.

European organizations should first verify if they are running Star Practice Management Web version 2019.2.0.6. In the absence of an official patch, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit user privileges, ensuring that only trusted personnel have any level of access to the application. Monitoring and auditing access to configuration panels should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts promptly. Network segmentation can be used to isolate the management interfaces from general user networks. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with any access to the system can reduce the risk of compromised credentials being used to exploit this vulnerability. Organizations should also engage with the vendor or community for updates or patches and apply them promptly once available. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on authorization controls within the application can help identify and remediate similar issues proactively.