CVE-2020-6251 in Business Intelligence Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Under certain conditions or error scenarios SAP Business Objects Business Intelligence Platform, version 4.2, allows an attacker to access information which would otherwise be restricted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2020
SAP Business Objects Business Intelligence Platform version 4.2 contains a security vulnerability that enables unauthorized information access under specific error conditions or operational scenarios. This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw that could allow attackers to bypass intended security restrictions and gain access to sensitive data that should be protected. The issue manifests when the platform encounters certain error states or exceptional conditions during processing, creating potential pathways for information disclosure that violate the system's intended security boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the core business intelligence platform where sensitive corporate data, financial reports, and strategic analytics are typically processed and stored.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the platform's error handling and access control subsystems. When the system encounters specific error conditions or fails to properly validate user requests, it may inadvertently grant access to restricted resources or data objects that should be protected from unauthorized access. This behavior creates a privilege escalation scenario where normal user privileges can be leveraged to access information beyond what is typically permitted. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning that could precede information gathering activities. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement, where the system does not properly validate access rights during error recovery scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise the integrity and confidentiality of business intelligence data. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access sensitive reports, financial data, customer information, or strategic business analytics that are typically restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability could enable data exfiltration campaigns, competitive intelligence gathering, or insider threat scenarios where unauthorized access to business-critical information could cause significant financial and reputational damage. Organizations using SAP Business Objects BI Platform 4.2 may face regulatory compliance issues if sensitive data is accessed without proper authorization, particularly in industries governed by data protection regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX compliance requirements. The vulnerability also creates potential for cascading security issues where compromised access could lead to further system exploitation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest SAP security patches and updates specifically addressing this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves configuring proper access controls and implementing additional monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts or unusual error conditions that might trigger the vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be enforced to limit access to the SAP Business Objects platform to only authorized users and systems. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors, while comprehensive audit logging should be enabled to track access patterns and detect anomalous behavior. System administrators should also review and restrict user permissions to ensure that least privilege principles are maintained, and implement proper error handling procedures that do not inadvertently expose sensitive information during system failures or error conditions. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust access control mechanisms and proper error handling in enterprise business intelligence platforms, particularly those handling sensitive organizational data.