CVE-2018-2368 in System Landscape Directory
Summary
by MITRE
SAP NetWeaver System Landscape Directory, LM-CORE 7.10, 7.20, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, does not perform any authentication checks for functionalities that require user identity.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2020
SAP NetWeaver System Landscape Directory represents a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2018-2368 affecting multiple versions including 7.10, 7.20, 7.30, 7.31, and 7.40 of the LM-CORE component. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication mechanisms for functionalities that inherently require user identity verification, creating a fundamental flaw in the system's security architecture. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to validate user credentials or establish proper session management for accessing sensitive system components. This authentication bypass weakness directly violates established security principles and creates an attack surface where unauthorized individuals can access privileged system functions without proper authorization. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-287 which specifically addresses improper authentication issues, making it a direct descendant of weak credential handling practices. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant risks including unauthorized access to system configurations, potential data breaches, and the ability to manipulate system landscapes without detection. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can exploit the lack of authentication checks to perform administrative functions, modify system parameters, or gain insights into the organization's IT infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it can enable further exploitation through lateral movement within the network. Organizations utilizing affected SAP NetWeaver versions face heightened risk of security incidents that could compromise sensitive business data and operational integrity. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage, as attackers can leverage the authentication bypass to operate under legitimate system identities. This flaw represents a serious gap in the security posture of SAP environments and demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and authentication enforcement mechanisms within the system's core components, particularly in how it handles user session management and privilege escalation. The lack of authentication checks for critical functionalities indicates a systemic security weakness that could affect multiple aspects of system operation. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying available SAP security patches, implementing additional access controls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments. The vulnerability also highlights the need for robust security monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts and system modifications. Proper configuration management and regular security audits become essential to prevent exploitation of this authentication bypass vulnerability. The issue underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures and following SAP's recommended security hardening guidelines to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future.