CVE-2020-6243 in Adaptive Server Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
Under certain conditions, SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise (XP Server on Windows Platform), versions 15.7, 16.0, does not perform the necessary checks for an authenticated user while executing the extended stored procedure, allowing an attacker to read, modify, delete restricted data on connected servers, leading to Code Injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2020
SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise represents a critical database management system that serves as the foundation for enterprise-level data processing and storage across numerous organizations. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6243 specifically targets the XP Server component running on Windows platforms within versions 15.7 and 16.0 of this enterprise database solution. This flaw exists within the extended stored procedure execution mechanism where proper authentication and authorization checks fail to validate user privileges before allowing data manipulation operations. The vulnerability manifests when authenticated users execute specific extended stored procedures without sufficient validation of their access rights, creating a path for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the XP Server architecture. When extended stored procedures are invoked, the system should verify that the authenticated user possesses appropriate permissions before executing potentially dangerous operations. However, the flaw allows attackers to bypass these critical validation steps, enabling unauthorized data access and manipulation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the database level where sensitive enterprise data resides, potentially allowing attackers to perform read, modify, or delete operations on restricted database objects. This represents a classic authorization bypass vulnerability that aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses insufficient authorization checks in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data access issues, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise database environments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, potentially leading to data breaches, financial losses, and regulatory compliance violations. The ability to execute code injection through extended stored procedures provides attackers with additional attack vectors for further system compromise, potentially enabling them to escalate privileges, access other systems, or establish persistent access within the enterprise network. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation, defense evasion, and data exposure, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database systems serve as central repositories for critical business information.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the latest SAP security patches and updates released specifically for this flaw. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit exposure of affected systems to only necessary users and applications. Database administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of extended stored procedures and implement strict access controls to minimize the attack surface. Regular monitoring and logging of database activities, particularly around extended stored procedure executions, should be enabled to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following security best practices such as principle of least privilege, regular security assessments, and maintaining up-to-date security configurations as outlined in industry standards like ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.