CVE-2023-6451 in Procura Portal
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2024
Publicly known cryptographic machine key in AlayaCare's Procura Portal before 9.0.1.2 allows attackers to forge their own authentication cookies and bypass the application's authentication mechanisms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6451 represents a critical cryptographic weakness in AlayaCare's Procura Portal software prior to version 9.0.1.2. This issue stems from the improper handling of cryptographic machine keys that are publicly accessible within the application environment. The flaw resides in the authentication cookie generation process where attackers can exploit the predictable or exposed key material to create forged authentication tokens that appear legitimate to the system. Such a vulnerability fundamentally undermines the security posture of the application by allowing unauthorized access without proper credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the use of weak or publicly exposed cryptographic keys that are utilized for session management and authentication token generation. When cryptographic keys are not properly secured or are distributed in a manner that makes them accessible to unauthorized parties, they become a critical attack vector for session hijacking and authentication bypass scenarios. The flaw essentially allows attackers to predict or reconstruct the cryptographic signatures used in authentication cookies, enabling them to impersonate legitimate users within the application. This weakness directly relates to CWE-326 which addresses inadequate encryption strength and CWE-310 which covers cryptographic issues including key management failures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, privilege escalation, and complete system compromise. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain persistent access to sensitive healthcare information, patient records, and administrative functions within the Procura Portal. The implications are particularly severe given that AlayaCare operates in the healthcare sector where regulatory compliance and data protection are paramount. This vulnerability enables attackers to maintain long-term access to the system, potentially leading to extended periods of unauthorized data access and manipulation. The attack surface is further expanded as this weakness can be leveraged for lateral movement within the network and as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6451 require immediate implementation of proper cryptographic key management practices and software updates. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to AlayaCare Procura Portal version 9.0.1.2 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper key rotation and secure storage mechanisms. Additionally, implementing robust key management protocols including secure key generation, storage in protected environments, and regular key rotation schedules should be enforced. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious authentication patterns and unauthorized access attempts. The implementation of additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication can provide defense in depth. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 which covers credential harvesting and T1078 which involves valid accounts usage, making it critical to implement proper access controls and monitoring to prevent exploitation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar cryptographic weaknesses in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.