CVE-2018-2365 in NetWeaver Portal
Summary
by MITRE
SAP NetWeaver Portal, WebDynpro Java, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, 7.50, does not sufficiently encode user controlled inputs, resulting in Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2020
SAP NetWeaver Portal running WebDynpro Java versions 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, and 7.50 contains a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with limited privileges to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions within the application context. The flaw exists in the way the application processes user-controlled input parameters that are subsequently rendered in web responses without proper sanitization or encoding.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where applications fail to properly encode or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The vulnerability manifests when user input is directly embedded into HTML output without appropriate escaping or encoding, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. This issue affects the WebDynpro Java component of SAP NetWeaver Portal, which is commonly used for building enterprise web applications and portals.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where SAP NetWeaver Portal serves as a central application platform. Attackers could exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized transactions, access sensitive data, or escalate privileges within the application. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, man-in-the-middle attacks, or even privilege escalation within the SAP environment. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions suggests it represents a widespread issue affecting numerous enterprise deployments.
The attack surface for this vulnerability includes any user interaction with WebDynpro Java applications within SAP NetWeaver Portal that accepts user input and subsequently displays it in web pages. This encompasses various portal components, navigation elements, search functions, and user profile management features that process user-supplied data. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection and T1531 for credential access, as attackers can leverage the XSS to obtain session tokens and other sensitive information. The exploitation typically requires an authenticated user context, making it somewhat more difficult to exploit than public-facing XSS vulnerabilities, but still represents a serious security risk.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant SAP security patches, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their SAP environments, implement proper access controls, and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices in enterprise web applications, particularly in complex portal environments where multiple components interact and process user data. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments are essential to maintain protection against similar issues in SAP NetWeaver Portal and related components.