CVE-2022-28214 in BusinessObjects Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2022
During an update of SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise, Central Management Server (CMS) - versions 420, 430, authentication credentials are being exposed in Sysmon event logs. This Information Disclosure could cause a high impact on systems’ Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28214 affects SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise Central Management Server (CMS) versions 420 and 430, presenting a critical information disclosure risk during system updates. This flaw resides within the logging mechanisms of the CMS component, specifically during the update process where authentication credentials are inadvertently written to Sysmon event logs. The exposure occurs through improper handling of sensitive data within the system's logging infrastructure, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by unauthorized actors with access to the event logs. This represents a significant weakness in the software's security architecture and demonstrates poor input sanitization practices during update operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the CMS update process failing to properly sanitize or redact authentication credentials before writing them to system event logs. Sysmon event logs, which are designed to monitor system activity and provide security administrators with detailed operational information, become contaminated with sensitive credential data. This creates a situation where any user or process with access to the Sysmon logs can extract authentication information, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks and unauthorized system access. The flaw operates at the application level within the CMS component and is classified under CWE-209, Information Exposure Through an Error Message, though it specifically manifests through logging mechanisms rather than error messages. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004, Indicator Removal on Host, as the exposure creates artifacts that can be leveraged for further compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, affecting all three pillars of the CIA triad. Confidentiality is severely compromised as authentication credentials become accessible to unauthorized parties who can potentially gain system access and extract sensitive business data. Integrity suffers because attackers can use the exposed credentials to modify system configurations or inject malicious code into the CMS environment. Availability is also at risk as successful credential compromise can lead to system disruption through unauthorized access or malicious activities such as data deletion or system manipulation. The high impact designation reflects the potential for widespread system compromise, particularly in enterprise environments where SAP BusinessObjects is heavily utilized for business intelligence and reporting.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including configuring Sysmon to exclude sensitive data from event logging, implementing strict access controls on event log files, and conducting regular audits of system logs for credential exposure. The recommended approach involves disabling or modifying the specific logging behavior during CMS updates, implementing credential redaction policies, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access to system logs. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to CMS components and event logging infrastructure. The vulnerability also necessitates a review of the SAP BusinessObjects update procedures and implementation of additional security controls during system maintenance operations. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and consider implementing automated log monitoring solutions to detect and alert on credential exposure incidents. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper data sanitization in system logging and the need for comprehensive security testing during software update processes.