CVE-2012-2512 in NetWeaver
Summary
by MITRE
The DiagTraceStreamI function in disp+work.exe 7010.29.15.58313 and 7200.70.18.23869 in the Dispatcher in SAP NetWeaver 7.0 EHP1 and EHP2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a crafted SAP Diag packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2512 represents a critical denial of service weakness within SAP NetWeaver's dispatcher component, specifically affecting versions 7.0 EHP1 and EHP2. This flaw exists in the DiagTraceStreamI function of disp+work.exe executable, which is responsible for handling diagnostic tracing operations within the SAP system architecture. The vulnerability manifests when the dispatcher processes specially crafted SAP Diag packets that contain malformed or unexpected data structures, leading to abnormal termination of the dispatcher daemon and subsequent service disruption for all connected clients.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of diagnostic packet formats that are normally used for system monitoring and troubleshooting purposes. The DiagTraceStreamI function fails to properly validate incoming packet data, allowing attackers to craft malicious packets that trigger buffer overflows or invalid memory access conditions within the dispatcher process. This improper input validation represents a classic weakness that aligns with CWE-129, which covers inadequate validation of length of input buffers, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write conditions. The vulnerability specifically targets the diagnostic tracing subsystem that operates within SAP NetWeaver's central dispatcher component, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect the core communication infrastructure of the entire SAP landscape.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of critical business applications that depend on SAP NetWeaver infrastructure. When the dispatcher daemon crashes due to this vulnerability, all connected SAP clients lose their ability to communicate with the system, effectively halting business processes and potentially causing significant financial and operational damage. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it accessible to attackers who may not have direct system access. This weakness can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a significant risk to SAP environments that rely heavily on continuous availability of their business applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant SAP security patches and hotfixes that address the input validation issues within the dispatcher component. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to diagnostic ports and services where possible, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in diagnostic packet traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in system components that handle external data, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing of all system interfaces, particularly those involved in diagnostic and monitoring functions that are often overlooked in traditional security assessments.