CVE-2018-2488 in Fiori Client
Summary
by MITRE
It is possible for a malware application installed on an Android device to send local push notifications with an empty message to SAP Fiori Client and cause the application to crash. SAP Fiori Client version 1.11.5 in Google Play store addresses these issues and users must update to that version.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2020
This vulnerability affects the SAP Fiori Client application running on Android devices and represents a denial of service condition that can be exploited through malicious local push notifications. The flaw exists in how the application processes notification messages, specifically when receiving empty message payloads that are crafted by malware installed on the device. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the notification processing mechanism, allowing malformed or empty notification data to cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. This behavior aligns with common software security principles where insufficient sanitization of external inputs leads to application instability and potential service disruption. The issue is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where SAP Fiori Client serves as a critical interface for business applications and mobile workforce productivity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of local push notification delivery through malware that has already gained access to the device. When the malicious application sends a notification with an empty message field to the SAP Fiori Client, the application fails to properly handle this edge case during the notification parsing and display process. This failure results in an unhandled exception that causes the application to crash and terminate its execution. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of defensive programming practices and proper error handling mechanisms that should be implemented to prevent such scenarios from leading to application instability. The flaw is categorized under CWE-248, which addresses "Uncaught Exception" conditions in software implementations, and represents a failure to implement robust input validation and sanitization procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially disrupt business processes that depend on mobile access to enterprise applications. When the SAP Fiori Client crashes repeatedly due to malicious notifications, end users lose access to critical business functions and may be unable to perform their mobile work tasks effectively. This disruption can cascade into productivity losses and increased help desk support requests, particularly in organizations with large deployments of the SAP Fiori Client. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages existing malware on the device rather than requiring additional attack vectors, making it a low-effort, high-impact exploit that can be easily deployed by threat actors. Organizations may also face compliance and security audit concerns if such vulnerabilities are present in their mobile application ecosystems, as they represent potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate updating of the SAP Fiori Client application to version 1.11.5, which includes proper input validation and error handling for notification messages. This update addresses the root cause by implementing defensive programming techniques that properly sanitize notification data and handle empty message scenarios gracefully. Security administrators should also implement mobile device management policies that restrict notification permissions for applications and monitor for unusual notification patterns that might indicate malicious activity. Additional protective measures include network-based filtering of notification traffic and regular security assessments of mobile applications to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1070.004 for indicator removal, as organizations must both patch the vulnerability and monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict which applications can send local notifications to enterprise applications, reducing the attack surface for such exploits.