CVE-2020-6242 in Business Intelligence Platform
Summary
by MITRE
SAP Business Objects Business Intelligence Platform (Live Data Connect), versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.x, allows an attacker to logon on the Central Management Console without password in case of the BIPRWS application server was not protected with some specific certificate, leading to Missing Authentication Check.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2020
SAP Business Objects Business Intelligence Platform presents a critical authentication vulnerability in its Live Data Connect component affecting versions 1.0, 2.0, and 2.x releases. This flaw stems from an insufficient authentication mechanism within the Central Management Console that fails to properly validate user credentials when the BIPRWS application server lacks specific certificate protection. The vulnerability manifests when the system defaults to a state where unauthorized access becomes possible without proper password verification, creating a significant security gap in the platform's access control framework. This issue directly maps to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication scenarios in software systems. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the authentication check process, allowing attackers to bypass the standard login procedures that should enforce credential validation. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides potential attackers with administrative privileges within the business intelligence platform, enabling them to manipulate data, modify configurations, and access sensitive business intelligence information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker identifies that the BIPRWS application server is not properly secured with the required certificates, which would normally enforce secure communication channels and authentication protocols. Without these specific certificate protections in place, the system falls back to a less secure authentication state where the Central Management Console accepts connections without proper password verification. This creates an attack surface where malicious actors can establish administrative sessions simply by connecting to the platform, bypassing all standard authentication mechanisms. The underlying issue demonstrates poor security design principles where the system does not properly enforce mandatory authentication checks, particularly in scenarios where security features are not fully implemented or configured. The vulnerability's operational impact is severe as it allows attackers to gain full administrative control over the business intelligence platform, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, and disruption of business intelligence operations. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts with default passwords or weak authentication, though in this case it's specifically about missing authentication rather than weak credentials.
Organizations utilizing affected SAP Business Objects versions face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, unauthorized modifications to business intelligence dashboards, and compromise of sensitive analytical data. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require complex attack vectors or specialized tools, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers with basic knowledge of the platform's architecture. Security teams must understand that this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack techniques, as the attacker gains administrative access that allows them to escalate privileges and access other system components. The lack of proper authentication checks creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the certificate protection is not properly implemented, making it a particularly concerning issue for organizations with limited security monitoring capabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including ensuring proper certificate deployment for BIPRWS application servers, enforcing mandatory authentication mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify systems running vulnerable versions of the platform. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining proper security configurations and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to prevent single points of failure in authentication mechanisms.