CVE-2016-6150 in HANA
Summary
by MITRE
The multi-tenant database container feature in SAP HANA does not properly encrypt communications, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors, aka SAP Security Note 2233550.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6150 resides within SAP HANA's multi-tenant database container functionality, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of data communications across tenant environments. This issue specifically targets the encryption mechanisms implemented within SAP HANA's multi-tenant architecture, where multiple customer databases operate within a shared infrastructure while maintaining logical isolation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient encryption of communications between tenant containers and the underlying database system, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors positioned remotely within the network infrastructure.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the improper handling of encryption protocols during inter-tenant communications and administrative operations within the SAP HANA environment. When multiple tenants share the same database container, the system should enforce strict cryptographic protections to prevent data leakage between tenants and ensure that communications remain confidential and integrity-protected. However, this vulnerability allows attackers to potentially intercept and manipulate communications that should remain encrypted and isolated. The weakness specifically affects the encryption layer responsible for securing data transmission between the database container and external systems, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive tenant information and potentially compromising the entire multi-tenant environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing SAP HANA's multi-tenant capabilities, as it could enable attackers to bypass access controls that are fundamental to maintaining tenant isolation. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest potential for data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or further exploitation opportunities that could compromise the broader SAP HANA ecosystem. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain access to data belonging to other tenants within the same container, undermining the core principle of multi-tenancy security. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for cloud-based deployments where network exposure is inherent.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant SAP security note 2233550 which provides specific patches and configuration changes to address the encryption deficiencies. The remediation process involves strengthening the encryption protocols used in multi-tenant communications and ensuring that proper cryptographic mechanisms are enforced for all inter-tenant data transfers. Security administrators should also consider implementing additional network segmentation measures and monitoring for unusual communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in software systems, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's credential access and defense evasion tactics, as it enables attackers to bypass authentication and access controls through cryptographic failures. Organizations must prioritize the application of security patches and conduct thorough assessments of their multi-tenant SAP HANA deployments to prevent potential exploitation of this critical vulnerability.