CVE-2018-2466 in Data Services
Summary
by MITRE
In Impact and Lineage Analysis in SAP Data Services, version 4.2, the management console does not sufficiently validate user-controlled inputs, which results in Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2466 affects SAP Data Services version 4.2 within the Impact and Lineage Analysis component, specifically impacting the management console interface. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of the application's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the way the system processes user-controlled data within the management console environment, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the application's response. The affected component serves as a critical interface for administrators to manage and analyze data lineage and impact analysis within SAP environments, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the management console's data handling processes. When users interact with the Impact and Lineage Analysis functionality, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate data entered through various input fields, including text areas, parameters, or configuration settings. This inadequate validation allows malicious payloads to be executed within the context of the user's browser session, enabling attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that can be executed when other users access the affected pages. The vulnerability manifests as a classic cross-site scripting flaw, where the application treats user-supplied data as executable code rather than mere data input. According to CWE-79, this represents a direct violation of the principle of input sanitization and output encoding, where the system does not properly distinguish between trusted and untrusted data sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2466 extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the SAP ecosystem. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation within the SAP environment. The management console's role as an administrative interface makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges and access sensitive configuration data. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input that gets stored or reflected in the application's response, which is then executed when other users view the affected content, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users within the organization's SAP deployment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the SAP Data Services management console. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates released to address this specific flaw. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewall rules to detect and block malicious script payloads can provide an additional layer of protection. The remediation process should include thorough input sanitization of all user-supplied data, proper output encoding for dynamic content, and implementing content security policies to prevent script execution. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive penetration testing to identify any similar vulnerabilities within the SAP environment, as this type of flaw often indicates broader input validation issues that may exist elsewhere in the application stack. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the exploitation of web applications through various injection attacks, emphasizing the need for robust application security controls and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent such attacks from compromising enterprise data services platforms.