CVE-2013-6819 in NetWeaver
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Performance Provider in SAP NetWeaver allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6819 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Performance Provider component of SAP NetWeaver, a widely deployed enterprise application platform. This security weakness resides in the web application layer where user input is not adequately sanitized before being rendered back to clients, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability affects SAP NetWeaver installations that utilize the Performance Provider functionality, which is commonly employed for monitoring and reporting performance metrics within enterprise environments.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Performance Provider module. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts or HTML content through unspecified input vectors that are processed by the application's web interface. These vectors typically involve parameters or data fields that are directly incorporated into web responses without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to craft payloads that execute in the victim's browser when the affected page is rendered. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that have semantic meaning in HTML and JavaScript contexts, enabling attackers to inject script tags or event handlers that can execute arbitrary code within the user's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized administrative actions within the compromised environment. Given that SAP NetWeaver is deployed in mission-critical enterprise applications, the potential for damage is significant, particularly when attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive business data, manipulate performance monitoring dashboards, or establish persistent access points within the enterprise network. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location with internet connectivity, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed user bases or those that expose their SAP systems to external networks.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected SAP NetWeaver installations through official SAP security notes and updates. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection by filtering suspicious traffic patterns and preventing injection attempts before they reach the vulnerable components. Input validation controls should be strengthened at all application entry points, with proper encoding of output data to prevent script execution in web contexts. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious user behavior patterns and unusual data submissions that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of how inadequate data validation can lead to severe security consequences. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage XSS for initial access, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both technical and operational security controls.