CVE-2023-2418 in Konga
Summary
by MITRE • 04/29/2023
A vulnerability was found in Konga 2.8.3 on Kong. It has been classified as problematic. This affects an unknown part of the component Login API. The manipulation leads to insufficiently random values. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitability is told to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. It is recommended to change the configuration settings. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-227715.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2418 represents a significant security flaw within the Konga 2.8.3 component of the Kong API gateway platform. This issue manifests within the Login API component where insufficient randomness in generated values creates exploitable conditions that could compromise authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability has been classified as problematic due to its potential to undermine the security posture of systems relying on Konga for API management and user authentication services. The affected area specifically targets the random value generation process within the authentication flow, which serves as a critical security control for protecting access to protected resources.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate entropy sources or flawed random number generation algorithms within the Login API module. This weakness allows attackers to predict or reproduce random values used during authentication processes, potentially enabling unauthorized access to protected systems. The vulnerability's complexity classification indicates that exploitation requires substantial technical expertise and resources, though the public disclosure of exploit information has lowered the barrier to implementation. The insufficient randomness could manifest in various forms including predictable session tokens, weak password reset codes, or compromised cryptographic key generation within the authentication pipeline. This weakness directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-330, which addresses insufficient entropy in random number generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass scenarios, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or establish persistent access within compromised environments. Systems utilizing Konga 2.8.3 for API management face elevated risk of credential compromise and unauthorized system access, particularly in environments where the Login API handles sensitive user authentication. The attack vector requires sophisticated exploitation techniques due to the high complexity rating, yet the public availability of exploit information means that threat actors with moderate technical capabilities can potentially leverage this weakness. Organizations relying on this authentication mechanism may experience unauthorized access to critical API endpoints and user accounts without proper detection or prevention measures in place.
Security mitigations for CVE-2023-2418 should prioritize immediate configuration updates and implementation of stronger random number generation practices. System administrators must verify that all random value generation within the Login API component utilizes cryptographically secure random number generators that meet industry standards such as those specified in NIST SP 800-90A. The recommended approach includes updating to patched versions of Konga where available, implementing additional entropy sources, and configuring proper monitoring for anomalous authentication patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms as additional defense-in-depth controls, while conducting thorough security assessments of all authentication flows within their API management infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as publicly exploitable necessitates immediate action to prevent potential compromise of production environments, with security teams implementing network monitoring and access control measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.