CVE-2016-9562 in NetWeaver AS JAVA
Summary
by MITRE
SAP NetWeaver AS JAVA 7.4 allows remote attackers to cause a Denial of Service (null pointer exception and icman outage) via an HTTPS request to the sap.com~P4TunnelingApp!web/myServlet URI, aka SAP Security Note 2313835.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2019
SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java version 7.4 contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted HTTPS requests. This vulnerability specifically targets the P4TunnelingApp component within the sap.com namespace, making it accessible through the myServlet URI endpoint. The flaw manifests as a null pointer exception that occurs when the system processes malicious requests, leading to complete service disruption and potential icman process outages. This vulnerability represents a significant threat to SAP environments as it allows attackers to remotely destabilize critical business applications without requiring authentication or elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends an HTTPS request to the designated URI path, triggering a null pointer exception within the Java application server's processing logic. This exception causes the icman process to terminate unexpectedly, resulting in a complete service outage that affects the availability of the targeted SAP application. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the P4TunnelingApp servlet implementation, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming request parameters before processing them. This type of flaw falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions that can lead to application crashes and denial of service scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-9562 extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can severely disrupt business operations within organizations relying on SAP NetWeaver Java applications. When the icman process goes offline, it affects the overall application server availability, potentially causing cascading failures across dependent systems and services. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target affected systems from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed SAP instances. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks and represents a common method for compromising system availability in enterprise environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the SAP security note 2313835 patch, which provides the necessary code fixes to prevent the null pointer exception from occurring. Network-level protections such as firewalls and web application firewalls should be configured to restrict access to the vulnerable URI endpoint until patches are applied. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous HTTPS request patterns targeting the myServlet URI will help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and error handling in enterprise applications, as highlighted by CWE-20 standards for secure coding practices. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates should be prioritized to prevent similar issues from affecting SAP environments and maintain overall system integrity and availability.