CVE-2014-8315 in BusinessObjects Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
polestar_xml.jsp in SAP BusinessObjects Explorer 14.0.5 build 882 replies with different timing depending on if a connection can be made, which allows remote attackers to conduct port scanning attacks via a host name and port in the cms parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8315 affects SAP BusinessObjects Explorer version 14.0.5 build 882 and specifically targets the polestar_xml.jsp component. This flaw manifests as a timing-based side-channel information disclosure issue that enables remote attackers to perform port scanning operations against target systems. The vulnerability stems from the application's inconsistent response timing behavior when processing connection requests through the cms parameter, creating observable time differences that reveal network connectivity status.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the polestar_xml.jsp script's handling of network connection attempts through the cms parameter which contains host name and port information. When the application attempts to establish a connection to the specified host and port, it exhibits different response times depending on whether the connection succeeds or fails. This timing variation occurs because successful connections typically complete faster than failed connection attempts, creating a measurable difference in response duration that attackers can exploit to infer network port states.
From an operational perspective this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations using SAP BusinessObjects Explorer as it enables remote port scanning capabilities without requiring authentication or direct exploitation of other vulnerabilities. Attackers can leverage this timing differential to map network topology, identify active services, and potentially discover vulnerable systems within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network layer and can be executed remotely against exposed web applications without requiring privileged access or complex attack vectors.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-203: "Observable Timing Discrepancy" and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1046: "Network Service Scanning' and T1049: 'System Network Connections Discovery'. The timing-based information leakage creates a covert channel that allows adversaries to gather reconnaissance data about target systems and network configurations. This type of vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign application functionality can create security weaknesses when response behaviors are not properly normalized to prevent timing analysis attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable SAP applications, disabling unnecessary network services, and implementing proper input validation for the cms parameter. The most effective long-term solution involves patching the affected SAP BusinessObjects Explorer version with the appropriate security updates from SAP. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns in response timing and implementing rate limiting on connection attempts can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls and network intrusion detection systems to identify and block malicious port scanning activities targeting this specific vulnerability.