CVE-2018-2361 in Solution Manager
Summary
by MITRE
In SAP Solution Manager 7.20, the role SAP_BPO_CONFIG gives the Business Process Operations (BPO) configuration user more authorization than required for configuring the BPO tools.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2361 resides within SAP Solution Manager 7.20 where the SAP_BPO_CONFIG role exhibits excessive authorization privileges that exceed the minimum requirements for performing Business Process Operations configuration tasks. This represents a classic privilege escalation issue where users assigned to this role can access resources and perform actions beyond their legitimate operational scope. The excessive permissions granted through this role create a potential security risk that could be exploited by both internal malicious actors and external attackers who gain access to accounts with this authorization level. This misconfiguration violates the principle of least privilege which is fundamental to secure system design and is explicitly addressed by security frameworks such as the CWE-257 weakness category for insecure storage of credentials and the CWE-264 weakness for permissions, privileges, and access controls.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper assignment of authorization objects within the SAP system where the SAP_BPO_CONFIG role includes permissions that extend beyond the typical scope of Business Process Operations configuration activities. This over-privileged role allows users to potentially access sensitive system components, modify critical configurations, or perform administrative tasks that should be restricted to higher-privileged roles. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authorization management within SAP Solution Manager 7.20 and demonstrates poor privilege segregation practices that can lead to unauthorized access to system resources. From an operational perspective, this flaw creates a potential attack surface where an attacker could leverage this excessive authorization to escalate privileges or gain access to additional system components that are normally protected from standard BPO configuration users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data integrity compromise and system availability risks. When users possess more authorization than necessary for their role, it increases the potential blast radius of any successful exploitation attempt. This over-privileged state could enable attackers to move laterally within the system, access confidential business process data, or modify system configurations that could disrupt business operations. The vulnerability also impacts compliance requirements as it violates security best practices established by frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for access control management. Organizations may face audit findings or regulatory penalties for maintaining excessive user privileges that are not properly justified or monitored.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2361 should focus on implementing proper role-based access control measures within SAP Solution Manager 7.20. Organizations must review and restructure the SAP_BPO_CONFIG role to ensure it contains only the minimum necessary permissions required for Business Process Operations configuration tasks. This involves conducting comprehensive authorization audits, implementing role segregation principles, and regularly reviewing user assignments to ensure compliance with the principle of least privilege. The recommended approach includes disabling or removing unnecessary authorization objects from the SAP_BPO_CONFIG role, implementing regular access reviews, and establishing change management processes for authorization modifications. Security controls should also include monitoring for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts and implementing logging mechanisms to track access to sensitive system components. Organizations should consider implementing additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication for privileged accounts and regular security assessments to identify similar over-privileged roles throughout the SAP environment. The remediation process should align with ATT&CK framework tactics related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, ensuring that the solution addresses both the immediate vulnerability and broader security posture improvements.