CVE-2021-33687 in NetWeaver AS JAVA
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2021
SAP NetWeaver AS JAVA (Enterprise Portal), versions - 7.10, 7.20, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, 7.50 reveals sensitive information in one of their HTTP requests, an attacker can use this in conjunction with other attacks such as XSS to steal this information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2023
SAP NetWeaver AS JAVA Enterprise Portal contains a vulnerability that exposes sensitive information through HTTP requests, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing these specific versions. The flaw manifests in the way the system handles certain HTTP communications, where sensitive data becomes inadvertently accessible to unauthorized parties. This vulnerability affects multiple major versions including 7.10, 7.20, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, and 7.50, indicating a widespread issue across the SAP NetWeaver Java platform. The exposure occurs during standard HTTP request processing, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring specialized tools or extensive knowledge of the system's internal workings.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive data within HTTP responses or request parameters. When the Enterprise Portal processes certain requests, it may include confidential information such as session identifiers, user credentials, or system metadata in the HTTP communication. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application layer. The vulnerability is classified as an information disclosure issue, which aligns with CWE-200 - "Information Exposure" and potentially CWE-352 - "Cross-Site Request Forgery" when combined with other attack vectors. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where the system reveals more information than necessary during normal operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it creates opportunities for attackers to gather intelligence about the target system and its users. An attacker who can intercept HTTP traffic can extract sensitive information that may include authentication tokens, user session data, or system configuration details. When combined with other attack vectors such as cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, the impact becomes exponentially more dangerous as attackers can leverage the exposed information to perform session hijacking, privilege escalation, or further reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is enhanced by the fact that it affects the core Enterprise Portal functionality, which typically serves as a central access point for enterprise applications and services.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, starting with applying the latest security patches provided by SAP. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical need for proper input sanitization and output encoding practices within web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 - "Phishing" and T1071.1003 - "Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols" where attackers can exploit information disclosure to establish persistent access. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while also implementing proper access controls and encryption for all communications. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar information exposure issues within custom applications built on the SAP platform, ensuring compliance with security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper security configuration management in enterprise web applications.