ePA 3.x Integration implements the authorization workflow and writes Medical Information Objects to Germany's electronic patient record. Prior to 1.3.0, ePA 3.x Integration leaves request_counter unchanged in app/vau/VAUProtokoll.py while constructing VAU messages. The frozen client request counter causes the server side to reuse AES-GCM nonce and key combinations across responses. A network attacker who collects repeated ciphertexts can recover the XOR of plaintexts and use predictable inner HTTP headers and JSON fields to recover sensitive data, including patient health records. Repeated nonces can also enable recovery of the GHASH authentication key through the Joux forbidden attack, allowing forged AES-GCM messages and injection of malicious responses. The response-counter check also fails to maintain last_response_counter, weakening replay and ordering validation. This issue is fixed in version 1.3.0.
History

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description ePA 3.x Integration implements the authorization workflow and writes Medical Information Objects to Germany's electronic patient record. Prior to 1.3.0, ePA 3.x Integration leaves request_counter unchanged in app/vau/VAUProtokoll.py while constructing VAU messages. The frozen client request counter causes the server side to reuse AES-GCM nonce and key combinations across responses. A network attacker who collects repeated ciphertexts can recover the XOR of plaintexts and use predictable inner HTTP headers and JSON fields to recover sensitive data, including patient health records. Repeated nonces can also enable recovery of the GHASH authentication key through the Joux forbidden attack, allowing forged AES-GCM messages and injection of malicious responses. The response-counter check also fails to maintain last_response_counter, weakening replay and ordering validation. This issue is fixed in version 1.3.0.
Title ePA 3.x Integration: AES-GCM Nonce Reuse via Frozen VAU Request Counter
Weaknesses CWE-323
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-18T16:52:38.214Z

Reserved: 2026-06-04T21:34:34.427Z

Link: CVE-2026-50577

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-18T17:16:58.790

Modified: 2026-08-18T17:16:58.790

Link: CVE-2026-50577

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-18T18:45:03Z