CVE-2020-6304 in NetWeaver Internet Communication Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Improper input validation in SAP NetWeaver Internet Communication Manager (update provided in KRNL32NUC & KRNL32UC 7.21, 7.21EXT, 7.22, 7.22EXT KRNL64NUC & KRNL64UC 7.21, 7.21EXT, 7.22, 7.22EXT, 7.49 KERNEL 7.21, 7.49, 7.53) allows an attacker to prevent users from accessing its services through a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6304 resides within SAP NetWeaver Internet Communication Manager, a critical component responsible for handling internet communication requests in SAP environments. This flaw represents a classic case of improper input validation that can be exploited to execute denial of service attacks against targeted systems. The vulnerability affects multiple kernel versions including KRNL32NUC, KRNL32UC, KRNL64NUC, and KRNL64UC across various SAP NetWeaver releases, making it particularly widespread in enterprise environments where SAP systems are prevalent. The affected components are integral to the communication stack that processes incoming requests from clients and manages service availability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input parameters within the communication manager's processing logic. When maliciously crafted input data is received by the system, the improper validation allows the input to bypass normal processing checks and potentially trigger abnormal system behavior. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the system's response handling mechanisms, causing the service to become unresponsive or crash entirely. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system attempts to process malformed or unexpected input sequences that should normally be rejected or properly handled by the validation routines. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-20, which represents "Improper Input Validation" - a fundamental weakness that consistently leads to various security issues including denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-6304 extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially compromising business continuity and operational efficiency in SAP-dependent organizations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to systematically deny access to critical SAP services, affecting enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and other business-critical applications that rely on the NetWeaver infrastructure. The consequences can be severe in production environments where SAP systems handle sensitive business transactions and real-time data processing. Organizations may experience extended downtime, reduced productivity, and potential financial losses due to service unavailability. The vulnerability's exploitation can be automated, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can deploy coordinated denial of service campaigns against multiple targets simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-6304 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the input validation deficiencies. SAP has released specific updates for KRNL32NUC, KRNL32UC, KRNL64NUC, and KRNL64UC kernel versions, which must be applied immediately to remediate the vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network-level protections including firewall rules that restrict access to the affected components and monitor for suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing input sanitization measures at the application level and establishing robust monitoring protocols to detect anomalous behavior that could indicate attempted exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving service disruption and resource exhaustion, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive cybersecurity defenses. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses across the SAP ecosystem.