CVE-2012-2513 in NetWeaver
Summary
by MITRE
The Diaginput 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-2012-2513 represents a critical denial of service flaw within SAP NetWeaver's dispatcher component, specifically affecting versions 7.0 EHP1 and EHP2. This issue resides in the Diaginput function of disp+work.exe executable, which serves as the core process managing system diagnostics and communication within the SAP environment. The vulnerability manifests when the dispatcher receives specially crafted SAP Diag packets that trigger an improper handling of input data, leading to daemon crash and subsequent service disruption. The affected versions 7010.29.15.58313 and 7200.70.18.23869 demonstrate the precise build numbers where this flaw exists, making it particularly relevant for organizations maintaining these specific SAP NetWeaver installations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-defined pattern where remote attackers can construct malicious SAP Diag packets designed to trigger buffer overflow conditions or improper memory handling within the disp+work.exe process. This function operates as part of SAP's diagnostic infrastructure, which is essential for monitoring system health and performance. When these crafted packets are processed, they cause the dispatcher daemon to terminate unexpectedly, creating a cascading effect that can disrupt business operations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which categorizes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically relates to improper input validation of diagnostic packets. The attack vector is entirely remote, meaning no local access or authentication is required, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where SAP systems are exposed to external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely affect business continuity and system availability within SAP environments. Organizations relying on SAP NetWeaver for critical business processes face potential downtime that could span from minutes to hours depending on recovery procedures. The daemon crash affects the entire dispatcher functionality, which is responsible for managing work processes and coordinating system resources. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be classified under MITRE ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks. The disruption can cascade to affect downstream applications that depend on SAP NetWeaver services, potentially causing wider business disruption across multiple departments and processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2513 should focus on immediate patching of affected SAP NetWeaver installations to the latest supported versions that contain the fix for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to SAP dispatcher ports and services, particularly ensuring that only authorized systems can communicate with the SAP diagnostic interfaces. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of diagnostic packet traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts. The SAP Security Notes and patches should be applied immediately, as they contain specific fixes for the Diaginput function's input validation issues. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious SAP Diag packet structures. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify similar issues in other SAP components and ensure comprehensive protection against similar remote denial of service vulnerabilities.