CVE-2014-5171 in HANA Extend Application Services
Summary
by MITRE
SAP HANA Extend Application Services (XS) does not encrypt transmissions for applications that enable form based authentication using SSL, which allows remote attackers to obtain credentials and other sensitive information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2022
SAP HANA Extend Application Services (XS) represents a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5171 that fundamentally undermines the integrity of authentication mechanisms within SAP HANA environments. This vulnerability specifically affects applications that implement form-based authentication while utilizing SSL encryption, creating a dangerous misconfiguration where the system fails to properly encrypt sensitive data transmitted between clients and servers. The flaw exists at the application layer where the XS runtime environment does not enforce consistent encryption policies, leaving authentication credentials and other confidential information exposed to interception attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a design flaw in how SAP HANA XS handles secure communication channels during form-based authentication processes. When applications are configured to use SSL for secure connections, the system should ensure that all data transmitted, particularly authentication tokens and user credentials, remains encrypted throughout the entire communication lifecycle. However, CVE-2014-5171 reveals that the XS runtime environment bypasses proper encryption enforcement, allowing attackers to capture and analyze network traffic using standard packet sniffing tools such as tcpdump or Wireshark. This creates a scenario where sensitive information flows unencrypted over the network, despite the presence of SSL configuration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with comprehensive access to authenticated sessions and potentially sensitive business data. Network sniffing attacks can capture not only login credentials but also session tokens, personal information, and enterprise data that flows through the vulnerable applications. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of sensitive data exposure and inadequate logging and monitoring. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking attacks, where captured session identifiers can be used to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to restricted resources.
The attack vector for CVE-2014-5171 aligns with several MITRE ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through network sniffing. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by positioning themselves within the network traffic path to capture unencrypted authentication data, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network monitoring is insufficient. The vulnerability also maps to CWE-312, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext transmission, and CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper encryption. Organizations utilizing SAP HANA XS applications without proper network segmentation and monitoring capabilities face significant risk of unauthorized access to critical business systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5171 require immediate implementation of network-level security controls including mandatory encryption enforcement, proper network segmentation, and comprehensive monitoring of authentication traffic. Organizations should deploy network intrusion detection systems to identify and alert on suspicious traffic patterns, while implementing strict SSL/TLS policies that enforce encryption for all application communications. SAP released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, requiring administrators to apply the appropriate security fixes and verify that SSL configurations properly enforce encryption throughout the authentication process. Additionally, implementing network access controls and regular security assessments can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts while ensuring compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure application development and deployment practices.