CVE-2020-6301 in ERP
Summary
by MITRE
SAP ERP (HCM Travel Management), versions - 600, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, allows an authenticated but unauthorized attacker to read, modify and settle trips, resulting in escalation of privileges, due to Missing Authorization Check.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2020
SAP ERP HCM Travel Management systems running versions 600 through 608 contain a critical authorization flaw that enables authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and manipulate travel-related data. This vulnerability stems from a missing authorization check within the system's access control mechanisms, allowing malicious users with legitimate credentials to bypass intended security boundaries. The flaw exists in the travel management module where users can perform unauthorized operations on trip records, including reading sensitive information, modifying travel details, and settling trips that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This represents a significant security weakness that directly violates fundamental access control principles and can lead to substantial financial and operational consequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic authorization bypass issue that aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization in software systems. Attackers exploiting this flaw can leverage their existing authenticated session to perform actions outside their designated permissions, effectively elevating their privileges within the system. The missing authorization check creates a path where user inputs or API calls are not properly validated against the user's role-based access controls, allowing arbitrary data manipulation. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal exploitation effort beyond having valid credentials, making it attractive to both internal and external threat actors who may have obtained legitimate login information through various means including credential theft or social engineering attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass potential financial fraud, compliance violations, and reputational damage for organizations using affected SAP ERP systems. When unauthorized users can settle trips, they have the ability to process fraudulent travel claims and potentially generate unauthorized expenses that could result in significant monetary losses. The ability to read sensitive trip information also poses privacy risks, as personal travel data including destination details, accommodation preferences, and travel dates may be accessed by individuals who should not have such visibility. Organizations may face regulatory compliance challenges if audit trails show unauthorized access to travel management systems, particularly in industries subject to financial reporting standards or data protection regulations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including thorough access control reviews, enhanced monitoring of travel management system activities, and implementation of additional authorization checks. The recommended approach involves configuring role-based access controls more strictly within the SAP system to ensure that only authorized personnel can perform specific trip management functions. Security teams should also establish comprehensive audit logging for all travel-related operations to detect unauthorized activities promptly. Additionally, SAP recommends applying the latest security patches and updates to address the root cause of this vulnerability, while organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and additional monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and proper authorization testing within enterprise systems to prevent similar issues from compromising organizational security postures and maintaining compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 requirements for access control management.