CVE-2016-6859 in Hybris
Summary
by MITRE
Hybris Management Console (HMC) in SAP Hybris before 6.0 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by triggering an error and then reading a Java stack trace.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6859 resides within the Hybris Management Console component of SAP Hybris commerce platform versions prior to 6.0. This flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the system fails to properly handle error conditions, leading to the exposure of sensitive technical information through error messages. The Hybris Management Console serves as a critical administrative interface for managing commerce operations, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to gather intelligence about the underlying system architecture and configuration details.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper error handling within the HMC component where specific operations trigger Java exception handling routines that inadvertently expose stack trace information to remote attackers. When an attacker interacts with the system in a manner designed to cause an error condition, the application's response includes detailed Java stack traces that contain sensitive information about the application's internal structure, including class names, method calls, file paths, and potentially database connection details. This behavior violates fundamental security principles by providing attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for subsequent exploitation attempts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using SAP Hybris platforms, as the exposed stack traces can reveal critical system information that would otherwise remain hidden from external observers. The leaked information includes detailed application architecture insights, potentially exposing database schemas, internal API endpoints, and system configuration parameters that could be used to craft more sophisticated attacks. Security professionals should note that such information disclosure vulnerabilities often serve as precursors to more serious exploitation techniques, as they provide attackers with the foundational knowledge required to identify and target specific system weaknesses.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that emphasize the importance of sanitizing error messages before presenting them to users. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving reconnaissance and information gathering, specifically T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1069 (Permission Groups Discovery), as the exposed stack traces can reveal file system structures and access controls within the application environment. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive error handling procedures that sanitize all error responses and ensure that stack traces are not exposed to unauthorized users. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to SAP Hybris version 6.0 or later, which includes enhanced error handling mechanisms that properly suppress sensitive information in error responses. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, logging mechanisms, and network segmentation can help reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.