CVE-2022-24397 in Netweaver Enterprise Portal
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2022
SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal - versions 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, 7.50, does not sufficiently encode user-controlled inputs, resulting in reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability.This reflected cross-site scripting attack can be used to non-permanently deface or modify displayed content of portal Website. The execution of the script content by a victim registered on the portal could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of victim’s web browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2022
SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal represents a critical web-based platform that serves as a central hub for enterprise information and application integration across organizations. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24397 specifically targets versions 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, and 7.50 of this enterprise portal software, which are widely deployed across corporate environments for managing user access, content delivery, and business process integration. This vulnerability manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting flaw that exploits insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the portal's web interface components. The affected system architecture processes user requests through web server components that fail to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web page responses, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary script code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious URLs containing specially crafted script payloads that are then reflected back to users who click on the poisoned links. This reflected XSS attack vector operates by leveraging the portal's failure to implement proper input sanitization and output encoding controls, specifically failing to encode special characters such as angle brackets, quotation marks, and script tags that would normally be neutralized when processing user input. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, and represents a classic example of how insufficient data sanitization can lead to unauthorized code execution within web browsers. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but rather injected into the web application's response in real-time, making it particularly challenging to detect through traditional security monitoring mechanisms that focus on persistent storage patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content defacement to pose significant threats to enterprise security and data integrity. When successfully exploited, the malicious scripts can manipulate the portal's user interface to display false information, redirect users to malicious websites, or harvest sensitive session cookies and authentication tokens. The compromised web browser sessions can potentially lead to unauthorized access to enterprise resources, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation attacks. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a valuable foothold for further reconnaissance and lateral movement within the enterprise network, as authenticated users with access to the portal may have elevated privileges and access to sensitive business applications. The reflected nature of the attack means that the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, social engineering, or by leveraging existing user trust relationships within the organization.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and web application firewall rules to prevent malicious script injection attempts. The recommended defensive strategies encompass implementing proper content security policies, deploying robust input sanitization procedures, and establishing comprehensive monitoring for suspicious user activity patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of protection such as secure coding practices, regular security assessments, and user awareness training to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and proper input validation practices in enterprise web applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data and user authentication. The attack surface created by this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of script-based payloads for execution, and represents a common exploitation pattern that affects numerous enterprise web platforms. Organizations must prioritize patch management and security configuration reviews to address this vulnerability and prevent potential compromise of their enterprise portal infrastructure.