CVE-2018-2431 in Business Intelligence Suite
Summary
by MITRE
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Suite, versions 4.10 and 4.20, does not sufficiently encode user controlled inputs, resulting in Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2431 affects SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Suite versions 4.10 and 4.20, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms. This vulnerability resides within the web-based interface components of the business intelligence platform, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially compromising the integrity of the application and the security of its users. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes user-controlled input through various interface elements including report parameters, search fields, and interactive components that generate dynamic content. This represents a classic XSS vulnerability pattern where the system fails to properly encode or escape special characters in user-provided data before incorporating it into HTML output.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack vectors where an attacker crafts malicious input containing script payloads that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from authenticated sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate the application interface, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the privileged nature of business intelligence platforms, which often contain sensitive corporate data and may be accessed by users with elevated permissions. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the application's security controls that should have been implemented during the secure coding phase, specifically violating the principle of least privilege and proper input sanitization practices. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which defines the weakness of Cross-site Scripting, representing one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2431 extends beyond immediate script execution to compromise the overall security posture of organizations relying on SAP BusinessObjects platforms. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to establish persistent access vectors through session manipulation or by redirecting users to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the business intelligence environment. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application by enabling unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, especially when business intelligence systems contain sensitive financial, operational, or strategic information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that business intelligence platforms often serve as central hubs for data analysis and reporting, making them attractive targets for cyber adversaries seeking to gain deeper access to enterprise networks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics including the use of malicious content to compromise systems, and T1071 which addresses application layer protocols including web-based attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for SAP BusinessObjects versions 4.10 and 4.20. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script payloads, and establishing comprehensive monitoring for suspicious user activities. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution in compromised contexts, while regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also consider implementing strict output encoding mechanisms and ensuring that all user-controlled inputs are properly validated and sanitized before processing. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of comprehensive security awareness training for developers working with web-based applications. Regular vulnerability assessments and adherence to secure coding standards including OWASP Top Ten guidelines are essential for preventing similar issues in future development cycles.