CVE-2018-2394 in Internet Graphics Server
Summary
by MITRE
Under certain conditions an unauthenticated malicious user can prevent legitimate users from accessing the SAP Internet Graphics Server (IGS), 7.20, 7.20EXT, 7.45, 7.49, 7.53, services and/or system files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2394 affects SAP Internet Graphics Server versions 7.20, 7.20EXT, 7.45, 7.49, and 7.53, representing a significant denial of service weakness that undermines system availability and access control mechanisms. This flaw operates under specific conditions where an unauthenticated attacker can exploit the IGS service to disrupt legitimate user access, creating a scenario where authorized personnel cannot utilize critical system resources or access essential files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control measures within the graphics server component, allowing malicious actors to manipulate service operations without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves exploitation of the IGS service's handling of certain graphical requests and file access operations. Attackers can craft specific requests that cause the server to enter an inconsistent state or consume excessive system resources, ultimately leading to service disruption. This weakness operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-400, which addresses improper resource management and denial of service conditions. The flaw particularly impacts the server's ability to process legitimate requests while simultaneously allowing unauthorized interference with system operations, creating a scenario where the availability of critical graphics services becomes compromised.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2394 extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting business continuity and operational efficiency within SAP environments. When legitimate users cannot access system files or graphics services, it creates cascading effects throughout enterprise applications that depend on these resources, particularly in environments where SAP IGS serves as a critical component for reporting, visualization, and data presentation. The vulnerability's unauthenticated nature makes it particularly dangerous as it requires no prior access credentials or privileges, enabling attackers to exploit the weakness from external networks. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499, which covers denial of service attacks targeting network services and applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected SAP IGS versions, with administrators implementing network segmentation to limit access to IGS services and monitoring for anomalous request patterns. SAP has released patches addressing this specific vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected systems. Additional protective measures include implementing proper access controls, network firewalls to restrict unnecessary access to IGS ports, and continuous monitoring of system logs for indicators of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of comprehensive application security testing and regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other SAP components and enterprise applications.