CVE-2010-2904 in System Landscape Directory
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the System Landscape Directory (SLD) component 6.4 through 7.02 in SAP NetWeaver allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) action parameter to testsdic and the (2) helpstring parameter to paramhelp.jsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2904 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within SAP NetWeaver's System Landscape Directory component. This vulnerability affects versions 6.4 through 7.02 and exposes organizations to significant security risks through the improper handling of user input in web application interfaces. The SLD component serves as a crucial element in SAP NetWeaver's infrastructure management, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can compromise the entire system landscape monitoring capabilities. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors that leverage different parameter names to execute malicious scripts within the web application context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the SLD component's web interfaces. Attackers can exploit the action parameter in testsdic and the helpstring parameter in paramhelp.jsp to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. This occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, creating a direct pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The attack vectors demonstrate how parameter manipulation can bypass security controls, allowing malicious payloads to persist and execute when legitimate users interact with the compromised application components.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2904 extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the SAP environment. When authenticated users access compromised pages, their browser sessions become vulnerable to manipulation, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and access restricted system functions. The vulnerability's presence in the System Landscape Directory component means that attackers could compromise not just individual applications but entire system monitoring capabilities, affecting the integrity of critical infrastructure data. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can leverage the XSS to establish persistent access and execute further malicious activities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate the risk. The primary mitigation involves implementing strict input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected web applications, ensuring all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before processing. SAP recommends applying the relevant security patches and updates as provided in their official security notes, which typically address the root causes of the XSS vulnerabilities through proper parameter validation and HTML escaping. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious traffic patterns. Regular security assessments should include thorough testing of all web application interfaces for similar vulnerabilities, as this type of flaw often indicates broader input validation issues within the application architecture. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security practices and the necessity of comprehensive security testing in enterprise environments where SAP systems operate as critical infrastructure components.