CVE-2022-28213 in BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2022
When a user access SOAP Web services in SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform - version 420, 430, it does not sufficiently validate the XML document accepted from an untrusted source, which might result in arbitrary files retrieval from the server and in successful exploits of DoS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28213 affects SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform versions 420 and 430, representing a critical security flaw in the platform's handling of SOAP web services. This issue stems from insufficient validation of XML documents received from untrusted sources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through crafted XML input. The vulnerability specifically impacts the platform's XML parsing mechanisms, which fail to adequately sanitize or validate incoming data before processing, thereby exposing the system to potential exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and can be categorized under the broader class of XML external entity (XXE) processing vulnerabilities. When users access SOAP web services within the affected SAP platform, the system accepts XML documents without proper validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious XML content that can trigger unintended behavior. The flaw enables adversaries to perform unauthorized file retrieval operations from the server, potentially accessing sensitive data or system resources that should remain protected. Additionally, successful exploitation can lead to denial-of-service conditions, where the server becomes unavailable or unresponsive to legitimate requests, disrupting business operations and potentially causing significant financial impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the target system in multiple ways. The arbitrary file retrieval functionality can expose sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or other confidential information stored on the server. Furthermore, the denial-of-service component can be leveraged to disrupt critical business intelligence operations, particularly in enterprise environments where SAP BusinessObjects platforms serve as central repositories for analytical data and reporting capabilities. Organizations relying on these platforms for decision-making processes face substantial risk of operational disruption and potential data compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28213 should include immediate patching of affected SAP BusinessObjects platform versions, as well as implementation of network-level controls to restrict access to SOAP web services. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary SOAP endpoints and implementing robust input validation mechanisms to prevent XML injection attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories and T1499.004 for Endpoint Denial of Service, indicating the dual nature of the threat. Security teams should deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious XML traffic patterns and establish comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the broader SAP ecosystem and ensure continued protection against evolving threats.