CVE-2018-2390 in Internet Graphics Server
Summary
by MITRE
Under certain conditions a malicious user can prevent legitimate users from accessing the SAP Internet Graphics Server (IGS), 7.20, 7.20EXT, 7.45, 7.49, 7.53, via IGS Chart service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2390 represents a significant denial of service weakness within SAP Internet Graphics Server IGS versions 7.20, 7.20EXT, 7.45, 7.49, and 7.53. This flaw specifically affects the IGS Chart service component, which is responsible for rendering graphical content and charting capabilities within SAP environments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within the chart rendering service, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to disrupt legitimate service access. The issue manifests when a specially crafted request is submitted to the IGS Chart service, triggering a condition that prevents normal user operations from completing successfully. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA security triad, as it compromises the system's ability to provide uninterrupted service to authorized users while maintaining the integrity of the underlying data processing mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific pattern of input manipulation that causes the IGS Chart service to enter an unstable state. When a malicious user submits malformed or specially constructed chart requests, the service fails to properly handle these inputs, leading to resource exhaustion or process termination. The flaw operates through a combination of memory management issues and insufficient error handling within the chart rendering engine. Attackers can exploit this condition by repeatedly submitting requests that cause the service to consume excessive resources or enter a loop that prevents it from processing legitimate requests. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes unchecked resource consumption as a critical weakness in software design, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any attacker with network access to the affected SAP system.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2390 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise business continuity and operational efficiency within SAP environments. Organizations relying on IGS Chart services for reporting, dashboards, and graphical data presentation face significant risks when this vulnerability is exploited, as it can render critical business intelligence tools inaccessible to legitimate users. The vulnerability affects systems where charting functionality is integral to user workflows, potentially causing cascading effects throughout the organization's SAP ecosystem. Attackers can maintain their denial of service condition for extended periods, making it difficult for system administrators to identify and resolve the issue promptly. The exploitation can occur through automated tools, allowing for sustained disruption without requiring continuous manual intervention. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where SAP systems are critical infrastructure components, as the service disruption can affect multiple business processes that depend on charting and graphical data presentation. The attack vector through the IGS Chart service means that even users with limited privileges can cause significant operational disruption, making it a particularly concerning weakness from a security management perspective.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2390 should focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the IGS Chart service, particularly by blocking external access where possible and implementing strict internal access controls. SAP recommends applying the relevant security patches and updates released by SAP to address this vulnerability, as these patches contain the necessary code modifications to properly handle malformed chart requests. System administrators should monitor for unusual patterns in chart service usage and implement logging mechanisms that can detect potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of rate limiting and request validation controls can help prevent malicious users from overwhelming the service with crafted requests. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to isolate the IGS service from critical business systems, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of abnormal resource consumption patterns and process behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar weaknesses in other SAP components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in web service implementations.