Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
OpenEMR 5.0.2.1 has an authenticated cross-site scripting flaw that can lead to remote command execution if a victim interacts with malicious content. This matters most for organizations still running this legacy OpenEMR version, especially internet-accessible clinical systems.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted remediation item. It is not KEV-listed in the bundle, but public exploit material and possible command execution justify prompt action for any affected clinical system.
Technical view
The CVE describes CWE-79 in OpenEMR 5.0.2.1 user profile parameters. An authenticated attacker can inject JavaScript; the reported impact path includes downloading and executing a web shell. CVSS 3.1 is 5.4 with low complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, and changed scope.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to OpenEMR 5.0.2.1. Risk is higher where the application is internet-facing, permits broad authenticated access, or handles sensitive patient and operational data.
Exploitation context
Public exploit and advisory references exist, including ExploitDB and VulnCheck. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation, so active exploitation should not be assumed.
Researcher notes
Evidence is internally mixed: CVSS rates confidentiality and integrity as low with no availability impact, while the description and references frame an RCE chain. Validate version and exposure first, then follow vendor guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Identify and retire OpenEMR 5.0.2.1 instances.
- Check OpenEMR vendor guidance for the supported fixed upgrade path.
- Restrict access to OpenEMR until remediation is complete.
- Review authenticated user accounts and remove unnecessary access.
- Monitor for unexpected web-accessible files or administrative changes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory OpenEMR versions across production and test environments.
- Confirm whether any instance reports version 5.0.2.1.
- Review user profile fields for suspicious script content.
- Check web server logs for anomalous authenticated profile updates.
- Look for unexpected shell-like files in web-accessible directories.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-47817 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N2.32.7VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N——VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
4.8MediumVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-49784CVE reference, VulnCheck · exploit
- OpenEMR Official WebsiteCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- OpenEMR 5.0.2.1 DownloadCVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- SonarSource Vulnerability AnalysisCVE reference, VulnCheck · vendor-advisory
- Vulnerability Demonstration VideoCVE reference, VulnCheck · technical-description
- VulnCheck Advisory: OpenEMR 5.0.2.1 - Remote Code ExecutionCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.