CVE-2018-2364 in CRM WebClient UI
Summary
by MITRE
SAP CRM WebClient UI 7.01, 7.31, 7.46, 7.47, 7.48, 8.00, 8.01, S4FND 1.02, does not sufficiently validate and/or encode hidden fields, resulting in Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2020
SAP CRM WebClient UI versions 7.01 through 8.01 and S4FND 1.02 contain a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from inadequate validation and encoding of hidden fields within the user interface components. This vulnerability resides in the web client interface layer where user input is processed and rendered, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw specifically affects the handling of hidden form fields that are typically used to maintain state information and user preferences within the SAP CRM environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the system fails to properly sanitize input values that are stored in hidden fields within HTML forms and user interface components. These hidden fields are often used to store session identifiers, user roles, application states, or other contextual data that must be preserved across multiple page requests. When user-supplied data is not adequately validated or encoded before being rendered back to the browser, malicious payloads can be injected into these fields and subsequently executed when the page is loaded. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because hidden fields are typically not visible to end users, making them an attractive target for attackers who can leverage this to bypass traditional security controls and execute scripts without user awareness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised user context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify application data, or even escalate privileges within the SAP environment. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of SAP CRM and S4FND platforms, indicating a widespread issue that would impact numerous enterprise environments. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering, as it provides a mechanism to execute malicious code and potentially harvest user credentials.
The root cause of this vulnerability can be traced to inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the SAP CRM WebClient UI framework. This aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from insufficient validation and encoding of user-supplied data. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper data sanitization, where the system assumes that hidden fields contain only legitimate application data rather than potentially malicious input. Organizations utilizing affected SAP versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where users have administrative privileges or access to sensitive customer data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all hidden fields within SAP CRM applications. Organizations should apply the relevant SAP security patches and updates released to address this specific vulnerability, while also implementing additional security controls such as Content Security Policy headers and regular security assessments of web application components. The remediation process should involve thorough testing of all hidden field handling mechanisms to ensure that no similar vulnerabilities exist within the broader SAP ecosystem. Security teams should also implement monitoring and logging of user sessions to detect potential exploitation attempts, while conducting regular security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential signs of XSS attacks targeting SAP applications.