CVE-2015-7986 in HANA
Summary
by MITRE
The index server (hdbindexserver) in SAP HANA 1.00.095 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via an HTTP request, aka SAP Security Note 2197428.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7986 affects the index server component known as hdbindexserver within SAP HANA 1.00.095 systems. This critical flaw resides in the HTTP request processing functionality of the index server, which serves as a core component responsible for managing database indexing operations and query execution. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation and memory handling mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize HTTP requests received by the server. According to SAP Security Note 2197428, this weakness creates a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through specially crafted HTTP requests that can trigger memory corruption conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious HTTP requests to the affected index server process. These requests contain malformed data that, when processed by the hdbindexserver, causes memory corruption issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes resulting in denial of service. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management practices within the HTTP request parsing logic, allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed input parameters. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common precursors to memory corruption exploits.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to SAP HANA environments as it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for systems accessible over networks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and disruption of critical business operations. The denial of service aspect of the vulnerability can also be exploited to disrupt business continuity by causing system crashes or unresponsiveness. Organizations running SAP HANA 1.00.095 are particularly vulnerable since this version predates several security hardening measures and memory protection mechanisms that would otherwise mitigate such attacks.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends to any SAP HANA system running the affected index server component and accessible via HTTP connections. The threat landscape is further complicated by the fact that many SAP HANA installations are deployed in enterprise environments where network exposure is high, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying SAP security patches, restricting network access to the affected components, and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure. The recommended approach includes upgrading to SAP HANA versions that address this specific memory corruption issue while also deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.