openemr: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
CVE-2026-25147 is a high-severity authorization bypass through user-controlled key vulnerability in openemr, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected openemr versions: < 8.0.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.25% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of openemr you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
OpenEMR is a free and open source electronic health records and medical practice management application. Prior to version 8.0.0, in `portal/portal_payment.php`, the patient id used for the page is taken from the request (`$pid = $_REQUEST['pid'] ?? $pid` and `$pid = ($_REQUEST['hidden_patient_code'] ?? null) > 0 ? $_REQUEST['hidden_patient_code'] : $pid`) instead of being fixed to the authenticated portal user. The portal session already has a valid `$pid` for the logged-in patient. Overwriting it with user-supplied values and using it without authorization allows a portal user to view and interact with another patient's demographics, invoices, and payment history—horizontal privilege escalation and IDOR. Version 8.0.0 contains a fix for the issue.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For each and every data access, ensure that the user has sufficient privilege to access the record that is being requested.
- Make sure that the key that is used in the lookup of a specific user's record is not controllable externally by the user or that any tampering can be detected.
- Use encryption in order to make it more difficult to guess other legitimate values of the key or associate a digital signature with the key so that the server can verify that there has been no tampering.
More Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerabilities (CWE-639)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in openemr
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerabilities
- 8.3 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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