CVE-2018-2372 in HANA Extended Application Services
Summary
by MITRE
A plain keystore password is written to a system log file in SAP HANA Extended Application Services, 1.0, which could endanger confidentiality of SSL communication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2372 resides within SAP HANA Extended Application Services version 1.0, specifically manifesting as a critical security flaw involving plaintext credential exposure in system logging mechanisms. This issue represents a significant weakness in the application's security architecture, as it directly compromises the confidentiality of SSL communication through improper handling of sensitive authentication data. The vulnerability stems from the application's tendency to log plain text keystore passwords to system log files, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to encrypted communication channels.
The technical implementation flaw involves the logging subsystem of the SAP HANA Extended Application Services component where authentication credentials are not properly sanitized or encrypted before being written to log files. This behavior violates fundamental security principles regarding credential handling and demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices. The vulnerability specifically affects the keystore password management functionality within the SSL/TLS communication stack, where the system fails to implement proper credential obfuscation mechanisms during logging operations. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-532 Information Exposure Through Log Files, which specifically addresses the risk of sensitive data exposure through logging mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential compromise to encompass potential full system infiltration and data breach scenarios. When an attacker gains access to system log files containing plaintext keystore passwords, they can establish unauthorized SSL connections with the SAP HANA system, potentially decrypting sensitive data transmissions and bypassing authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability directly undermines the confidentiality assurances provided by SSL/TLS encryption protocols, creating a scenario where encrypted communications become vulnerable to interception and decryption. The risk is particularly severe in enterprise environments where SAP HANA systems often handle critical business data and financial transactions, making the exposure of keystore passwords a significant threat to overall information security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2372 should prioritize immediate implementation of log file access controls and credential sanitization measures. Organizations must ensure that system log files containing sensitive information are properly secured with restricted access permissions and that credential data is either encrypted before logging or completely excluded from log outputs. The recommended remediation includes implementing proper input validation and output sanitization controls within the application logging framework, along with regular log file audits to identify and remove any sensitive information that may have been inadvertently logged. Security configurations should enforce the use of encrypted logging mechanisms and establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized access attempts to log files. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.002 for Indicator Removal on Host, as the exposure of credentials through logs creates additional attack vectors that adversaries can leverage for persistence and privilege escalation within the SAP HANA environment.