CVE-2018-2499 in Sword
Summary
by MITRE
A security weakness in SAP Financial Consolidation Cube Designer (BOBJ_EADES fixed in versions 8.0, 10.1) may allow an attacker to discover the password hash of an admin user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2499 represents a critical security flaw in SAP Financial Consolidation Cube Designer software, specifically affecting versions prior to 8.0 and 10.1. This weakness resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the application, creating an avenue for unauthorized information disclosure that could significantly compromise the security posture of organizations relying on SAP financial consolidation solutions. The vulnerability impacts the BOBJ_EADES component which serves as a critical element in the financial consolidation process, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where financial data integrity and access control are paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access controls within the application's password handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract password hash information from administrative user accounts through carefully crafted requests that bypass normal authentication procedures. The flaw essentially allows for a form of credential enumeration where the system inadvertently reveals hash values without proper authorization checks, effectively weakening the security model that should protect privileged accounts. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-209, which addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," though the specific implementation here involves direct hash exposure rather than error-based information leakage. The vulnerability demonstrates poor implementation of security controls that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive authentication data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the foundation for more sophisticated attacks including password cracking attempts, credential reuse attacks, and potential privilege escalation within the SAP environment. Once an attacker obtains an administrative password hash, they can attempt offline cracking using various techniques such as rainbow table attacks or brute force methods, potentially gaining full administrative control over the financial consolidation system. This compromise could lead to unauthorized financial data modification, complete system takeover, and access to sensitive financial reporting capabilities that form the backbone of enterprise financial management. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003, which covers "Credential Access: Password Cracking," as the exposure of password hashes enables subsequent cracking operations that are often automated and highly effective against weak password policies.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the patched versions 8.0 and 10.1 of the BOBJ_EADES component, as these releases contain the necessary security fixes to prevent the unauthorized exposure of password hashes. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred prior to patching, including reviewing access logs for suspicious authentication attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of authentication requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include implementing stronger password policies, enabling multi-factor authentication where possible, and conducting regular security audits to ensure proper access controls remain in place. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access control mechanisms within enterprise financial systems where unauthorized access could result in significant financial and operational damage.