CVE-2019-0338 in Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
During an OData V2/V4 request in SAP Gateway, versions 750, 751, 752, 753, the HTTP Header attributes cache-control and pragma were not properly set, allowing an attacker to access restricted information, resulting in Information Disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0338 affects SAP Gateway systems running versions 750 through 753, specifically impacting the OData V2 and V4 protocols. This issue stems from improper handling of HTTP header attributes cache-control and pragma during OData requests, creating a significant information disclosure risk. The flaw manifests when the system fails to correctly implement these standard HTTP headers that control caching behavior and request handling, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized parties.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate implementation of HTTP caching controls within SAP Gateway's OData processing framework. The cache-control and pragma headers serve critical functions in web security by instructing browsers and intermediate proxies on how to cache content and whether requests should be revalidated. When these headers are improperly configured or omitted, they create opportunities for attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve restricted data that should be protected by authentication and authorization mechanisms. This represents a classic weakness in web application security where standard HTTP controls are not properly enforced, leading to information leakage.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-0338 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of SAP systems that rely on OData services for data access. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive business data, potentially including financial records, customer information, employee details, and proprietary business intelligence. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the protocol level rather than application level, meaning that successful exploitation does not require sophisticated attack techniques but rather leverages standard HTTP request manipulation. This characteristic makes the vulnerability accessible to a broader range of threat actors and increases the potential for widespread impact across enterprise environments using affected SAP Gateway versions.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a failure to properly implement security controls at the HTTP protocol layer. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving information gathering and credential access, as attackers can use the information disclosure to build intelligence for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper HTTP header implementation as a security control, reinforcing the principle that even fundamental web protocols require careful security consideration. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper header configuration, enhanced monitoring of OData requests, and regular security assessments of their SAP environments to prevent exploitation of this information disclosure vulnerability.