CVE-2014-1961 in NetWeaver
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Portal WebDynPro in SAP NetWeaver allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive path information via unknown attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1961 resides within the Portal WebDynPro component of SAP NetWeaver, representing a critical security flaw that exposes sensitive path information to remote attackers. This issue falls under the broader category of information disclosure vulnerabilities, where attackers can exploit unspecified attack vectors to gain unauthorized access to system paths that should remain confidential. The vulnerability affects SAP NetWeaver implementations that utilize Portal WebDynPro functionality, potentially impacting organizations relying on SAP enterprise software for their business operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path handling mechanisms within the Portal WebDynPro module. When processing user requests or specific webdynpro components, the system fails to properly sanitize or restrict access to internal file paths and directory structures. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious requests that traverse the application's path resolution mechanisms, ultimately revealing sensitive system paths that could aid in subsequent exploitation attempts. The unspecified attack vectors suggest that multiple entry points or methods could potentially trigger this information disclosure behavior, making the vulnerability particularly concerning from a security assessment perspective.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of CVE-2014-1961 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed path information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers who obtain sensitive path details can use this intelligence to map the underlying system architecture, identify potential file locations, and plan further exploitation strategies including path traversal attacks, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, or privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, allowing them to exploit the flaw from external networks. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and represents a significant risk to organizations that have not properly secured their SAP NetWeaver implementations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official SAP security patches and updates. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation controls, restricting access to sensitive system paths, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of SAP NetWeaver environments. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures and following industry best practices for SAP system hardening, as outlined in standards such as those referenced by the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) catalog under information disclosure categories. The incident underscores the critical need for organizations to maintain continuous security monitoring and vulnerability management processes to address the evolving threat landscape targeting enterprise application platforms.