CVE-2023-27894 in BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 03/14/2023
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform (Web Services) - versions 420, 430, allows an attacker to inject arbitrary values as CMS parameters to perform lookups on the internal network which is otherwise not accessible externally. On successful exploitation, attacker can scan internal network to determine internal infrastructure for further attacks like remote file inclusion, retrieve server files, bypass firewall and force the vulnerable server to execute malicious requests, resulting in sensitive information disclosure. This causes limited impact on confidentiality of data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2023
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform versions 420 and 430 contain a critical vulnerability in the Web Services component that enables remote attackers to perform unauthorized network reconnaissance and data exfiltration through improper input validation. This vulnerability manifests as an insecure parameter handling flaw that allows arbitrary CMS (Central Management Server) parameter injection, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass external network restrictions and access internal infrastructure. The flaw resides in how the platform processes web service requests, specifically in the validation and sanitization of CMS parameters that should normally remain internal to the enterprise network.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering mechanisms within the Web Services layer of the BusinessObjects platform. When attackers submit maliciously crafted CMS parameters through web service endpoints, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing them. This weakness enables attackers to inject arbitrary values that are then used to perform internal network lookups and service discovery operations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it allows for reconnaissance activities that would normally be blocked by network firewalls and access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating multiple attack vectors for sophisticated adversaries. Successful exploitation enables attackers to conduct internal network scanning to identify active services, operating systems, and network topology details that are typically hidden from external access. This reconnaissance capability provides attackers with valuable intelligence for planning subsequent attacks including remote file inclusion exploits, server-side request forgery attempts, and potential privilege escalation within the internal network. The vulnerability's ability to force the vulnerable server to make external connections creates opportunities for command and control communications and data exfiltration.
Security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-94, which addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," as the root cause involves inadequate parameter sanitization and code generation flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1046 "Network Service Scanning' and T1071.004 'Application Layer Protocol: DNS" for reconnaissance activities, along with T1566 'Phishing' and T1190 'Exploit Public-Facing Application' for initial compromise and lateral movement. The vulnerability's classification as a limited confidentiality impact reflects that while it does not directly enable full system compromise, it provides attackers with sufficient information to plan more sophisticated attacks against internal systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate the vulnerable BusinessObjects platform, deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious parameter inputs, and comprehensive network monitoring to detect unauthorized internal scanning activities. Regular patching and updating of SAP BusinessObjects platforms to versions that address this vulnerability should be prioritized, while implementing strict access controls and network access policies to minimize the attack surface. Security teams should also conduct thorough network audits to identify any other potentially vulnerable applications and implement proper input validation controls across all web services to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.