CVE-2018-2375 in HANA Extended Application Services
Summary
by MITRE
In SAP HANA Extended Application Services, 1.0, a controller user who has SpaceAuditor authorization in a specific space could retrieve application environments within that space.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2020
SAP HANA Extended Application Services version 1.0 contains a significant authorization bypass vulnerability that allows malicious actors with specific permissions to access sensitive application environment data. This vulnerability resides within the controller user authorization framework and specifically affects users who possess SpaceAuditor authorization within targeted application spaces. The flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate access control mechanisms within the SAP HANA ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper authorization checks within the controller user role hierarchy. When a user holds SpaceAuditor authorization, they should only have auditing and monitoring capabilities within their designated space. However, the flawed implementation allows these users to bypass normal access restrictions and retrieve complete application environment information, including configuration parameters, environment variables, and potentially sensitive operational data. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization validation where the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has legitimate access to the requested environment data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and CWE-276 which covers inadequate privileges for system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables potential attackers to gather comprehensive information about running applications and their configurations. An attacker with SpaceAuditor privileges could map application dependencies, identify potential attack vectors, and gather intelligence for further exploitation. This information could be particularly valuable for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to understand system architecture and identify weak points in the application environment. The vulnerability creates a pathway for privilege escalation and could facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as application-level exploitation or lateral movement within the SAP HANA environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1069.001 (Credential Access: Account Manipulation) and T1580 (TA0006 - Credential Access) as it enables unauthorized access to application-level information that could be used for further compromise.
Organizations utilizing SAP HANA Extended Application Services version 1.0 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant SAP security patches and updates. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that SpaceAuditor users cannot access application environment information beyond their authorized scope. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts and unusual data retrieval patterns. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities within the SAP ecosystem. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the need for continuous security testing of enterprise application platforms. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions to further restrict access to sensitive system information and reduce the attack surface for such authorization bypass scenarios.