CVE-2020-6192 in Landscape Management
Summary
by MITRE
SAP Landscape Management, version 3.0, allows an attacker with admin privileges to execute malicious commands with root privileges in SAP Host Agent via SAP Landscape Management.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2024
SAP Landscape Management version 3.0 contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that enables attackers with administrative access to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges through the SAP Host Agent component. This vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it allows lateral movement and escalation within SAP environments where landscape management tools are deployed. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and privilege handling within the communication channel between SAP Landscape Management and the SAP Host Agent, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors who have already gained administrative access to the landscape management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege delegation mechanisms within the SAP Host Agent execution framework. When administrative users interact with SAP Landscape Management to perform system operations, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the commands being passed to the underlying SAP Host Agent. This creates a scenario where commands intended for legitimate administrative purposes can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests when SAP Landscape Management processes user input and forwards it to the SAP Host Agent without adequate privilege separation or command validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that are then executed with root-level permissions. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-269: "Improper Privilege Management" and CWE-78: "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command" within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete control over the target system and its underlying infrastructure. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute any command available to the root user, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the enterprise network. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where SAP systems are critical infrastructure components, as this vulnerability can enable attackers to gain complete administrative control over SAP-hosted systems. The implications are severe given that SAP Host Agent typically runs with elevated privileges to perform system-level operations, making this a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting administrative access to SAP Landscape Management systems, implementing network segmentation between landscape management components and critical systems, and applying the latest SAP security patches released for this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves conducting comprehensive access reviews to ensure that only authorized personnel have administrative privileges within the landscape management environment. Additionally, organizations should monitor for suspicious command execution patterns and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001: "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1548.001: "Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Setuid and Setgid" as it allows for command execution with elevated privileges and privilege escalation through improper privilege management. The vulnerability also represents a significant concern for compliance frameworks such as SOX and GDPR, as it could lead to unauthorized data access and system compromise that would trigger regulatory reporting requirements.