CVE-2016-2388 in NetWeaver
Summary
by MITRE
The Universal Worklist Configuration in SAP NetWeaver AS JAVA 7.4 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive user information via a crafted HTTP request, aka SAP Security Note 2256846.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2388 resides within the Universal Worklist Configuration component of SAP NetWeaver 7.4, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive user data through manipulated HTTP requests. This weakness specifically affects the worklist configuration functionality that manages task assignments and workflow processes within the SAP environment. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the Universal Worklist Configuration module, which fails to properly authenticate and authorize requests attempting to access worklist data. Security Note 2256846, referenced in the CVE description, details the specific conditions under which this information disclosure occurs, highlighting the absence of proper authorization checks that should prevent unauthorized access to user task information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper access control validation in the Universal Worklist Configuration interface. When a malicious actor crafts a specially designed HTTP request, the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses appropriate privileges to access the targeted worklist data. This flaw allows attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and retrieve sensitive information including user task assignments, workflow statuses, and potentially personal identifiable information associated with various worklist entries. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker with network access to the affected SAP system. The flaw essentially creates an information leakage channel that exposes workflow data without proper authorization verification, potentially compromising the confidentiality of business processes and user activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2388 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked user information could facilitate further attacks within the SAP ecosystem. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain insights into business processes, employee responsibilities, and workflow patterns that may aid in planning more sophisticated attacks. The exposure of worklist information provides attackers with knowledge of system usage patterns, task priorities, and user roles that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or social engineering attacks. Additionally, the compromised confidentiality of workflow data may violate regulatory compliance requirements such as those outlined in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, GDPR, and other data protection frameworks that mandate proper handling of sensitive business information. Organizations relying on SAP NetWeaver for mission-critical operations face significant risk of operational disruption and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant SAP security patches and updates referenced in SAP Security Note 2256846 to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Network-level protections such as firewalls and access control lists should be configured to restrict access to the Universal Worklist Configuration interface to only authorized administrative users. The implementation of proper input validation and access control mechanisms within the application layer is essential to prevent malformed HTTP requests from accessing restricted data. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to worklist configurations, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the SAP environment. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to provide defense-in-depth protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes information exposure vulnerabilities, and represents a specific instance of the broader category of access control flaws that fall under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, making it a significant concern for enterprise security posture management.