CVE-2013-7095 in Customer Relationship Management
Summary
by MITRE
The XML parser (crm_flex_data) in SAP Customer Relationship Management (CRM) 7.02 EHP 2 has unknown impact and attack vectors related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7095 resides within the XML parser component known as crm_flex_data in SAP Customer Relationship Management systems version 7.02 EHP 2. This issue represents a critical security flaw that falls under the category of XML External Entity processing vulnerabilities, which are commonly classified as CWE-611 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The vulnerability manifests in the way the system handles XML input data, specifically when processing external entity references that are not properly validated or restricted.
The technical flaw in this SAP CRM implementation stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the crm_flex_data parser. When the system receives XML data containing external entity declarations, it fails to adequately sanitize these inputs, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted XML documents that can trigger unintended behavior. This processing flaw creates a potential attack surface where remote adversaries could exploit the system's XML parser to access internal resources, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or potentially execute arbitrary code depending on the system configuration and underlying infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data processing concerns, as it represents a significant risk to SAP CRM system integrity and data confidentiality. Attackers could leverage this XXE vulnerability to access sensitive business data, perform unauthorized system reconnaissance, or establish persistent access points within the organization's CRM environment. The unknown nature of both the specific impact and attack vectors suggests that the vulnerability could potentially enable multiple exploitation techniques, including but not limited to data exfiltration, denial of service conditions, or privilege escalation within the affected system boundaries. The implications are particularly severe given that CRM systems typically contain highly sensitive customer information, business intelligence, and transactional data that organizations consider critical to their operations.
Organizations utilizing SAP CRM 7.02 EHP 2 should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the relevant SAP security patches and updates as provided through official SAP support channels. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to CRM system components, particularly those handling XML input processing. Input validation controls should be strengthened to prevent the processing of external entity references in XML documents, and administrators should consider implementing XML parser configurations that disable external entity processing entirely. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 which covers data from information repositories, and organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous XML processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities in the broader SAP ecosystem and related components.