CVE-2023-2946 in OpenEMR
Summary
by MITRE • 05/28/2023
Improper Access Control in GitHub repository openemr/openemr prior to 7.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2946 represents a critical improper access control flaw discovered in the openemr repository prior to version 7.0.1. This issue stems from insufficient authorization checks within the application's authentication and access control mechanisms, creating potential pathways for unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges or access restricted functionality. The vulnerability affects the openemr medical records management system which is widely deployed in healthcare environments for storing sensitive patient information. The improper access control vulnerability specifically manifests when the system fails to properly validate user permissions during critical operations, allowing malicious actors to bypass normal security boundaries. This flaw is particularly concerning given the sensitive nature of healthcare data and the potential for serious privacy violations when such vulnerabilities are exploited in real-world scenarios.
The technical implementation of this access control flaw involves weaknesses in the application's permission validation logic where certain administrative functions or sensitive data endpoints do not properly verify user credentials or roles before granting access. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating request parameters or leveraging existing authenticated sessions to perform unauthorized actions that should be restricted to specific user roles. The vulnerability typically occurs in scenarios where the application relies on incomplete session validation or where access control decisions are made based on insufficiently verified user attributes. This type of flaw often relates to CWE-285 which defines improper authorization conditions in software systems. The vulnerability may also manifest through insecure direct object references or insufficient checks for user privileges, allowing attackers to escalate their privileges or access unauthorized data sections.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-2946 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates substantial risk for healthcare organizations relying on openemr systems. Unauthorized access to patient medical records, administrative functions, or system configuration settings could result in data breaches, compliance violations under HIPAA regulations, and potential legal consequences for affected organizations. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to complete system compromise if attackers can leverage it to gain administrative access, potentially resulting in data exfiltration, system modification, or service disruption. Organizations using affected versions of openemr face significant exposure during the vulnerability window, particularly those with limited security monitoring capabilities or insufficient network segmentation. The impact is amplified in healthcare environments where patient privacy is paramount and regulatory compliance requirements are stringent, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations handling protected health information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-2946 should prioritize immediate deployment of the patched version 7.0.1 or later releases from the openemr repository. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control reviews to ensure proper privilege validation and session management throughout the application. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious authentication attempts or unauthorized access patterns. Security teams must conduct thorough penetration testing to identify similar access control weaknesses in other applications within their environment, as this vulnerability type often indicates broader architectural issues. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced across all system components, ensuring that users can only access functionality necessary for their roles. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar access control flaws in custom applications. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and following secure coding practices that align with NIST cybersecurity frameworks and industry best practices for access control implementation.