CVE-2020-6326 in NetWeaver
Summary
by MITRE
SAP NetWeaver (Knowledge Management), version-7.30,7.31,7.40,7.50, allows an authenticated attacker to create malicious links in the UI, when clicked by victim, will execute arbitrary java scripts thus extracting or modifying information otherwise restricted leading to Stored Cross Site Scripting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management systems running versions 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, and 7.50 contain a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that enables authenticated attackers to inject malicious javascript code into the user interface. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where web applications fail to properly validate or escape user input before rendering it in web pages. The flaw exists in the way the application processes and displays user-generated content within the knowledge management interface, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be persistently stored and executed against unsuspecting victims.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker with valid credentials to craft specially formatted links or content that, when stored within the system, becomes embedded in the user interface. When other users navigate to pages containing this malicious content or click on the crafted links, the embedded javascript executes in their browser context. This stored XSS vulnerability operates through the standard XSS attack vector where user input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to other users, creating a persistent threat that can affect any user who interacts with the compromised content. The attack chain begins with authentication, proceeds through content injection, and culminates in script execution on victim browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the ability to extract sensitive information from authenticated sessions, modify data within the knowledge management system, and potentially escalate privileges. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, access restricted content, modify knowledge base entries, and perform actions as the victim user. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the system, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability specifically targets the user interface components of SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management, making it particularly dangerous in environments where knowledge sharing and collaboration are heavily utilized.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability including input validation and output encoding mechanisms, regular security patching of SAP NetWeaver systems, and user awareness training about the dangers of clicking untrusted links. The mitigation strategy should incorporate proper content security policy implementation, regular security scanning of web applications, and monitoring for suspicious content uploads. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with attachments, highlighting the need for both technical controls and user education. SAP has released patches for this vulnerability in their security notes, and organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these updates while implementing additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls and enhanced monitoring of user-generated content to prevent exploitation.