CVE-2020-6249 in Master Data Governance
Summary
by MITRE
The use of an admin backend report within SAP Master Data Governance, versions - S4CORE 101, S4FND 102, 103, 104, SAP_BS_FND 748; allows an attacker to execute crafted database queries, exposing the backend database, leading to SQL Injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6249 resides within SAP Master Data Governance systems where an administrative backend reporting feature fails to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into database queries. This flaw exists across multiple SAP system versions including S4CORE 101 and S4FND versions 102 through 104, as well as SAP_BS_FND 748, making it a widespread concern affecting numerous enterprise deployments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that allow malicious actors to inject crafted SQL commands through the administrative reporting interface.
This SQL injection vulnerability operates at the core of database interaction protocols where user-supplied parameters are directly concatenated into SQL query strings without proper sanitization or parameterization. The administrative backend report functionality typically processes user inputs to generate database queries for data retrieval and reporting purposes, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can manipulate the underlying database operations. The flaw manifests when an attacker submits specially crafted input through the administrative interface, which then gets interpreted as part of the SQL command structure rather than as data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass complete database compromise scenarios. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary database commands, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion across the entire backend database infrastructure. The vulnerability exposes sensitive organizational data including master data records, user credentials, and system configuration information that resides within the SAP environment. This creates a significant risk for enterprise organizations as the administrative backend typically contains privileged access controls and comprehensive system information.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. The attack vector follows common patterns described in MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, parameterized queries, and privileged database access restrictions. SAP released patches addressing this vulnerability in their subsequent software updates, and organizations must apply these patches promptly to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of administrative interfaces can provide defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts.