CVE-2016-3946 in Console
Summary
by MITRE
SAP Console (aka SAPConsole) 7.30 allows local users to discover SAP Server login credentials by reading the Windows registry, aka SAP Security Note 2121461.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2019
SAP Console vulnerability CVE-2016-3946 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within SAP's enterprise software ecosystem that specifically affects SAP Console version 7.30. This vulnerability resides in the Windows registry handling mechanisms of the SAP Console application, which is designed to provide administrative interfaces for SAP systems. The flaw enables local attackers with minimal privileges to extract sensitive authentication credentials that are stored within the Windows registry, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on SAP infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the local privilege level, meaning that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this weakness without requiring elevated permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of credential storage within the Windows registry by SAP Console. When SAP Console applications store authentication information, they inadvertently expose this data in registry keys that are accessible to local users. This occurs due to insufficient access controls on registry entries containing SAP server login credentials, allowing unauthorized local access to sensitive authentication material. The registry entries typically contain password hashes, server connection details, and authentication tokens that are crucial for system access. This weakness aligns with CWE-200, which defines information exposure vulnerabilities, and demonstrates poor secure coding practices in credential management. The vulnerability exists because the application does not properly implement access control mechanisms to restrict registry access to authorized processes only, violating fundamental security principles of least privilege.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, creating cascading security risks throughout enterprise SAP environments. Local attackers who exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to SAP systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized transactions within SAP applications. The stolen credentials can be used to access multiple SAP systems if the same authentication information is reused across different environments. This vulnerability directly impacts SAP's security model by undermining the principle of secure credential storage and authentication. Organizations using SAP Console 7.30 are particularly vulnerable because the flaw affects the foundational authentication mechanisms that protect enterprise SAP infrastructure. The risk is amplified when considering that SAP Console is typically installed on systems where local users may have varying levels of access, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying SAP Security Note 2121461, which provides specific patches and configuration changes to address the registry access issue. System administrators must review and tighten registry access controls for SAP-related entries, implementing proper access control lists that restrict registry access to authorized processes only. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure configuration management and proper privilege separation within enterprise systems. Security teams should conduct comprehensive registry audits to identify and remediate similar credential storage issues across SAP installations. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unauthorized registry access attempts can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar issues in legacy SAP components, as this flaw represents a common pattern of insecure credential storage that may exist in other SAP applications. Organizations should consider implementing privileged access management solutions to further reduce the risk of local credential theft and ensure compliance with security standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 requirements for secure information handling.