CVE-2014-1962 in Customer Relationship Management
Summary
by MITRE
Gwsync in SAP CRM 7.02 EHP 2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1962 affects SAP CRM 7.02 EHP 2 through its Gwsync component, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive data from affected systems. This vulnerability stems from an XML External Entity processing weakness that allows malicious actors to manipulate the XML parsing mechanism within the SAP environment. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that attackers can exploit this XXE vulnerability through various attack surfaces within the Gwsync functionality, potentially compromising the confidentiality of data transmitted through the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of XML input within SAP CRM's Gwsync module, which processes XML data for synchronization purposes between different systems. When the system encounters XML documents containing external entity references, it fails to properly validate or sanitize these references, allowing attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can cause the system to access unauthorized resources. This processing flaw aligns with CWE-611, which specifically addresses improper restriction of XML external entity reference, and represents a classic XXE vulnerability pattern where the XML parser is configured to resolve external entities without adequate input validation. The vulnerability demonstrates how insecure XML processing can lead to information disclosure and potentially further exploitation through server-side request forgery attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive business data, user credentials, and internal system information that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access internal network resources, potentially leading to lateral movement within the enterprise network. The attack vector implications suggest that this vulnerability could be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on SAP CRM systems for customer relationship management. The exposure of sensitive information through this XXE flaw could result in data breaches, compliance violations, and significant business disruption, especially when considering that SAP CRM systems typically contain valuable customer data, transaction records, and business-critical information.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to SAP security patches released for this vulnerability, disabling unnecessary XML external entity processing in SAP configurations, and implementing network-level controls to restrict access to vulnerable components. The remediation strategy should encompass both application-level fixes and network segmentation to limit the potential attack surface. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential XXE vulnerabilities within their SAP environments and related systems. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of proper input validation and secure XML processing practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, particularly addressing the need for secure coding practices that prevent XML external entity processing without proper sanitization. The incident underscores the critical requirement for organizations to maintain up-to-date security patches and implement robust configuration management practices for enterprise applications like SAP CRM that handle sensitive business data.