CVE-2024-0362 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in version 1.0 of the PHPGurukul Hospital Management System, specifically in the admin/change-password.php file. The vulnerability arises from improper sanitization or validation of the 'cpass' parameter, which is used in SQL queries. An attacker with at least low privileges (PR:L) and network access (AV:A) can manipulate this parameter to inject malicious SQL code. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of data (confidentiality impact), modification of data (integrity impact), and potential disruption of service (availability impact). The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and affects the same security scope (S:U). Although the CVSS score is 5.5 (medium severity), the vulnerability is critical in nature due to the potential for data compromise in a healthcare environment. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, but the exploit details have been disclosed publicly, increasing the risk of exploitation. The lack of available patches means that affected systems remain vulnerable until mitigations or updates are applied.

For European healthcare organizations using PHPGurukul Hospital Management System 1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive patient data, violating GDPR regulations and potentially resulting in heavy fines and reputational damage. Data integrity could be compromised, affecting patient treatment records and hospital operations. Availability impacts could disrupt hospital services, causing delays in patient care. Given the critical nature of healthcare data and the strict regulatory environment in Europe, this vulnerability could have severe operational and legal consequences. Additionally, the medium CVSS score may underestimate the real-world impact in this sector, where data confidentiality and integrity are paramount.

European organizations should immediately audit their use of PHPGurukul Hospital Management System 1.0 and identify any instances of the vulnerable software. Since no official patches are available, organizations should implement the following mitigations: 1) Apply input validation and parameterized queries or prepared statements in the admin/change-password.php script to prevent SQL injection. 2) Restrict access to the admin interface to trusted networks and users only, using network segmentation and VPNs. 3) Monitor database logs and application logs for suspicious queries or unusual activity related to the 'cpass' parameter. 4) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting SQL injection attempts on the affected endpoint. 5) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on injection vulnerabilities. 6) Plan for an upgrade or migration to a patched or alternative hospital management system as soon as a fix becomes available or if the vendor discontinues support.