Cybersecurity researchers have identified significant vulnerabilities within Microsoft’s Azure Health Bot Service that could allow malicious actors to traverse customer environments, potentially accessing sensitive patient data. These vulnerabilities were recently reported by Tenable, emphasizing the critical nature of the flaws now patched by Microsoft.
Tenable’s investigation highlights that the vulnerabilities could facilitate unauthorized access to cross-tenant resources. This situation poses serious risks, especially considering the service’s role in enabling healthcare organizations to develop AI-powered virtual assistants that assist in managing administrative tasks and engaging with patients. Bots created using the Azure Health Bot can provide vital services, such as helping individuals check insurance claims or locate healthcare providers.
The focus of Tenable’s research was primarily on a feature called Data Connections, which integrates external data sources with the Azure Health Bot Service. Initially designed with security safeguards to prevent unauthorized API access, further analysis revealed that these defenses could be circumvented by malicious redirection techniques. An attacker could create a controlled host that responds with redirect status codes, misleading the system into exposing sensitive access information through Azure’s metadata service.
Additionally, the research indicated that a related endpoint supporting the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) data exchange was similarly vulnerable, potentially widening the impact of the exploit. After reporting their findings to Microsoft in mid-2024, the company promptly initiated a rollout of remediation measures across its regions. Fortunately, there are no indications that these vulnerabilities were exploited in real-world scenarios.
Tenable expressed concerns about the broader implications of such vulnerabilities, particularly in AI chatbot architectures, stressing the ongoing relevance of traditional web application and cloud security as digital technologies evolve. This disclosure follows recent discussions involving another vulnerability related to Microsoft Entra ID, which allowed for privilege escalation and unauthorized user management within privileged roles, demonstrating recurring security challenges in Microsoft’s ecosystem.
The identified vulnerabilities have been tracked under the CVE identifier CVE-2024-38109, with a severity score of 9.1. Microsoft has advised that the exploit involves a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability, allowing an authenticated attacker to increase their privileges over the network.
For organizations utilizing the Azure Health Bot Service, the likelihood of exploitation underscores the need for vigilance in securing cloud services. Relevant MITRE ATT&CK tactics such as privilege escalation and initial access may provide insight into the strategies that attackers could employ in similar incidents, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity practices in safeguarding sensitive health information.
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, businesses must remain proactive in addressing vulnerabilities and securing their digital infrastructure against potential threats.
