CVE-2020-6263 in NetWeaver AS JAVA
Summary
by MITRE
Standalone clients connecting to SAP NetWeaver AS Java via P4 Protocol, versions (SAP-JEECOR 7.00, 7.01; SERVERCOR 7.10, 7.11, 7.20, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, 7.50; CORE-TOOLS 7.00, 7.01, 7.02, 7.05, 7.10, 7.11, 7.20, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, 7.50) do not perform any authentication checks for operations that require user identity leading to Authentication Bypass.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-6263 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within SAP NetWeaver AS Java implementations that affects standalone client connections through the P4 Protocol. This vulnerability specifically impacts multiple versions of SAP JEECOR, SERVERCOR, and CORE-TOOLS components, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these systems. The flaw manifests when standalone clients establish connections to SAP NetWeaver AS Java systems, where the protocol implementation fails to properly validate user credentials for operations that should require authenticated access. This authentication bypass allows malicious actors to perform privileged operations without proper authentication, fundamentally undermining the security model of the affected systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of authentication checks within the P4 Protocol implementation of SAP NetWeaver AS Java. When standalone clients connect to the system, the protocol does not enforce mandatory authentication verification for operations that require user identity validation. This design flaw creates a pathway where unauthorized access can be achieved simply by establishing a connection through the P4 Protocol without providing valid credentials. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287 which specifically addresses Improper Authentication issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1078.002 for Single Sign-On, as it allows bypass of authentication mechanisms that should enforce user identity verification. The flaw essentially removes the requirement for authentication tokens or credentials when performing operations that should be restricted to authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using affected SAP systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform administrative operations, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, and potentially escalate privileges within the SAP environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of SAP NetWeaver AS Java deployments, as it allows unauthorized access to privileged operations that should be restricted to authenticated users only. Organizations may experience data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations depending on the sensitivity of the data processed by these systems. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects multiple versions across different SAP product lines, meaning that organizations with legacy systems or multiple SAP implementations may be at risk across their entire infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the relevant SAP security patches and updates released by SAP to address the authentication bypass issue. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks or clients. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts or unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive assessments of their SAP environments to identify all affected systems and ensure proper authentication enforcement is in place for all P4 Protocol connections. The remediation efforts should align with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for access control and authentication, and should be integrated into broader cybersecurity risk management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.