CVE-2018-2428 in Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
Under certain conditions SAP UI5 Handler allows an attacker to access information which would otherwise be restricted. Software components affected are: SAP Infrastructure 1.0, SAP UI 7.4, 7.5, 7.51, 7.52 and version 2.0 of SAP UI for SAP NetWeaver 7.00.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2428 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within SAP UI5 Handler components that operates under specific conditions to bypass intended access controls. This vulnerability affects multiple SAP infrastructure versions including SAP Infrastructure 1.0 and various SAP UI versions 7.4, 7.5, 7.51, 7.52, along with version 2.0 of SAP UI for SAP NetWeaver 7.00, creating widespread potential impact across enterprise SAP environments. The flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the UI5 handler that processes user requests, allowing unauthorized access to restricted information through carefully crafted attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of access control checks within the SAP UI5 framework components. When specific conditions are met during request processing, the system fails to properly validate user permissions against requested resources, enabling attackers to traverse normally restricted pathways. This represents a classic privilege escalation scenario where the system's authorization mechanisms are bypassed through manipulation of request parameters or session states. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to access data that should be restricted to authorized users only.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2018-2428 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential business disruption and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations utilizing affected SAP versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive business information, user credentials, system configurations, and proprietary data that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple SAP UI versions indicates a systemic issue within the framework's access control implementation, suggesting that organizations with diverse SAP environments may be simultaneously vulnerable. This creates cascading risk across enterprise networks where SAP systems interconnect with other critical infrastructure components.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Information Gathering and Credential Access phases, where attackers systematically identify and exploit access control weaknesses to gain unauthorized information access. The CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification for this vulnerability would likely fall under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, or potentially CWE-20, which covers improper input validation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying SAP security notes and patches, reviewing access control configurations, and monitoring for suspicious access patterns. Additionally, network segmentation and enhanced logging capabilities should be deployed to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive access control policies within enterprise SAP environments to prevent unauthorized information disclosure.