CVE-2010-3979 in BusinessObjects
Summary
by MITRE
Dswsbobje in SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 3.2 generates different error messages depending on whether the Login field corresponds to a valid username, which allows remote attackers to enumerate account names via a login SOAPAction to the dswsbobje/services/session URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3979 affects SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 3.2 and represents a classic account enumeration flaw that exposes sensitive information through inconsistent error messaging. This issue occurs within the dswsbobje component which handles authentication requests through SOAP web services, specifically targeting the session management service endpoint at dswsbobje/services/session. The flaw enables remote attackers to distinguish between valid and invalid usernames by observing different error responses generated by the system during the authentication process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's inconsistent error handling mechanism where the system provides different error messages based on whether the submitted username exists in the user database. When a valid username is submitted, the system returns one type of error message indicating authentication failure, while invalid usernames trigger different error responses that inadvertently reveal the existence of legitimate accounts. This differential response behavior creates a side-channel attack vector that allows adversaries to systematically test usernames and identify valid accounts through iterative login attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account enumeration as it provides attackers with a foundation for subsequent attack phases including brute force authentication attempts, credential stuffing attacks, and social engineering operations. The ability to confirm username existence significantly reduces the search space for password guessing attacks, making unauthorized access attempts much more efficient. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-209, which describes improper error handling that reveals internal information, and represents a specific instance of information disclosure through error messages. The attack pattern follows ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which involves valid accounts obtained through credential access methods, though in this case the access is gained through information gathering rather than direct exploitation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including standardizing error messages to prevent account enumeration, implementing rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious login patterns. The recommended approach involves configuring the SAP system to return generic error messages regardless of whether the username exists, thereby eliminating the information leakage that enables account enumeration. Additionally, network-level controls such as firewall rules and web application firewalls should be deployed to restrict access to the vulnerable SOAP endpoints and monitor for unusual authentication request patterns. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect and alert on potential enumeration attempts, as this vulnerability can be exploited both by external attackers and by malicious insiders with network access to the affected systems.