CVE-2018-2385 in Internet Graphics Server
Summary
by MITRE
Under certain conditions a malicious user provoking a divide by zero crash can prevent legitimate users from accessing the SAP Internet Graphics Server, 7.20, 7.20EXT, 7.45, 7.49, 7.53, and its services.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2385 represents a critical denial of service flaw within SAP Internet Graphics Server versions 7.20, 7.20EXT, 7.45, 7.49, and 7.53. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle malformed or maliciously crafted requests. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a malicious actor intentionally triggers a divide by zero error condition, which causes the affected system to crash and become unavailable to legitimate users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-369, which categorizes divide by zero errors as a common weakness that can lead to system instability and service disruption. The attack vector exploits the server's failure to validate numeric inputs before performing mathematical operations, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by adversaries to compromise system availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how a simple mathematical error can cascade into a significant operational impact within enterprise systems. When the SAP Internet Graphics Server processes a request containing invalid numeric data that results in division by zero, the system's exception handling mechanism fails to gracefully manage this condition. Instead, the application crashes or becomes unresponsive, effectively rendering the graphics server service inaccessible to all users. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes the use of resource exhaustion and system disruption as methods to achieve denial of service. The flaw represents a classic example of how insufficient error handling and input validation can create pathways for adversaries to disrupt critical business operations, particularly in environments where graphics rendering services are essential for user productivity.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2385 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially affect business continuity and user productivity across organizations relying on SAP systems. When legitimate users encounter system unavailability, it can disrupt workflows that depend on graphics rendering capabilities, particularly in enterprise environments where SAP applications serve as core business platforms. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be executed by any user with access to the affected server, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments. Organizations may experience cascading effects where the unavailability of graphics services impacts downstream applications that depend on these rendering capabilities. The vulnerability's presence in multiple SAP Internet Graphics Server versions indicates a widespread exposure that affects various organizational deployments and increases the potential attack surface for malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2385 should focus on implementing robust input validation and error handling mechanisms within the SAP Internet Graphics Server environment. Organizations should prioritize applying the official SAP security patches and updates that address this specific vulnerability, as these releases contain the necessary code modifications to prevent divide by zero conditions from causing system crashes. Network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor and block suspicious requests that may attempt to trigger this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and user authentication mechanisms can limit the ability of unauthorized users to interact with the graphics server. System administrators should also establish comprehensive monitoring and alerting procedures to detect unusual system behavior that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new operational issues. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant systems or failover mechanisms to maintain service availability during patch deployment or in case of successful exploitation attempts.