CVE-2010-3980 in BusinessObjects
Summary
by MITRE
Dswsbobje in SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 3.2 does not limit the number of CUIDs that may be requested, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service via a large numCuids value in a GenerateCuids SOAPAction to the dswsbobje/services/biplatform URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3980 resides within SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 3.2's Dswsbobje component, specifically manifesting in the biplatform web service interface. This flaw represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that exploits the absence of input validation controls for CUID (Content Unique Identifier) requests. The vulnerability occurs when the system processes SOAP requests containing the GenerateCuids SOAPAction, which is directed to the dswsbobje/services/biplatform URI endpoint. The core issue lies in the system's failure to implement any reasonable limits on the number of CUIDs that can be requested in a single operation, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to consume excessive system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter validation within the SOAP service processing logic. When an authenticated user submits a SOAP request with an excessive numCuids value, the system processes each requested CUID without bounds checking, leading to resource exhaustion through memory allocation and processing overhead. This behavior aligns with CWE-770, which describes the allocation of resources without reasonable limits, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices that mandate input validation and resource management controls. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that legitimate users with valid credentials can exploit this flaw to disrupt service availability for other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire business intelligence platform's stability and availability. An attacker can leverage this weakness to consume significant system resources including memory, CPU cycles, and database connections, effectively rendering the platform unusable for legitimate business operations. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates over the standard SOAP interface, making it difficult to distinguish from legitimate traffic and easier to execute without detection. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through resource exhaustion attacks, and represents a common pattern of denial of service exploitation that targets business intelligence platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation controls within the SOAP service layer to enforce reasonable limits on CUID requests. Organizations should configure maximum request size limits, implement rate limiting mechanisms, and establish monitoring for unusual request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The solution involves modifying the Dswsbobje service configuration to reject requests containing excessive CUID counts, typically implementing a maximum threshold that prevents resource exhaustion while maintaining legitimate functionality. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to detect and block suspicious SOAP traffic patterns, and establish comprehensive logging to monitor for exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other SAP components and ensure that proper input validation controls are in place across all web service interfaces.