CVE-2015-2817 in NetWeaver
Summary
by MITRE
The SAP Management Console in SAP NetWeaver 7.40 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via the ReadProfile parameters, aka SAP Security Note 2091768.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2817 affects the SAP Management Console component within SAP NetWeaver 7.40, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive data. This flaw specifically manifests through the ReadProfile parameters, which are improperly validated and processed within the management console interface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and access control mechanisms that fail to properly restrict unauthorized data retrieval operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to profile information that should remain protected within the SAP environment, potentially exposing configuration details, user credentials, or system parameters that could facilitate further attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of the ReadProfile functionality within the SAP Management Console. When remote users submit requests containing specific ReadProfile parameters, the system fails to adequately validate the input or enforce proper authorization checks before returning requested profile data. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and access control enforcement, which aligns with CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation and CWE-284 - Improper Access Control. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal authentication and authorization procedures that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system profiles. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to leverage this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where SAP systems are exposed to external networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2817 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked profile information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the SAP ecosystem. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can obtain sensitive configuration data, user account details, system parameters, and potentially authentication tokens or credentials that could enable further compromise of the SAP NetWeaver environment. This information disclosure creates opportunities for privilege escalation, lateral movement, and additional exploitation attempts that could ultimately lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as it allows unauthorized access to system profiles that should be restricted to authorized administrators only. Organizations utilizing SAP NetWeaver 7.40 systems face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential system infiltration through this weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2817 should prioritize immediate implementation of SAP Security Note 2091768, which provides specific patches and configuration changes to address the information disclosure vulnerability. Organizations must ensure that all SAP NetWeaver 7.40 systems are updated with the appropriate security fixes as recommended by SAP. Network-level protections should include firewall rules that restrict access to the SAP Management Console to trusted administrative networks only, and implement additional monitoring for unusual ReadProfile parameter usage patterns. The remediation process should also involve reviewing and strengthening access controls for the SAP Management Console, implementing proper authentication mechanisms, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and privileged access management solutions to limit exposure of critical SAP components. Additionally, continuous monitoring of system logs for unauthorized access attempts and implementation of security information and event management systems can help detect exploitation attempts and provide early warning of potential compromises. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access control implementations in enterprise systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1566 - Phishing as part of comprehensive cybersecurity defense strategies.