CVE-2024-21735 in LT Replication Server
Summary
by MITRE • 01/09/2024
SAP LT Replication Server - version S4CORE 103, S4CORE 104, S4CORE 105, S4CORE 106, S4CORE 107, S4CORE 108, does not perform necessary authorization checks. This could allow an attacker with high privileges to perform unintended actions, resulting in escalation of privileges, which has High impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability of the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-21735 affects SAP LT Replication Server components within SAP S/4HANA environments, specifically versions S4CORE 103 through S4CORE 108. This represents a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the fundamental security controls designed to protect enterprise data systems. The vulnerability resides in the replication server's failure to properly validate user permissions during critical operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit existing high-privilege accounts for unauthorized system actions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization validation mechanisms within the SAP LT Replication Server implementation. When users with elevated privileges attempt to perform replication-related operations, the system fails to verify whether these users possess the appropriate permissions for the specific actions they are attempting. This authorization gap allows attackers to manipulate system behavior through legitimate high-privilege accounts, effectively bypassing intended access controls. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically impacts the replication server's authentication and authorization framework.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability carries significant risk to enterprise information security. The potential for privilege escalation means that attackers who gain access to high-privilege accounts could execute unauthorized operations that compromise data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system corruption, unauthorized data modification, and service disruption that could affect business continuity. Organizations running affected SAP S/4HANA systems face substantial risk of data breaches and system compromise, particularly in environments where privileged accounts are frequently used for administrative tasks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an attack perspective, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which involves valid accounts and privilege escalation tactics. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced monitoring of privileged account activities, implementation of additional access controls, and comprehensive review of existing authorization policies. SAP has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these security updates. Additionally, network segmentation and least-privilege access models should be enforced to minimize potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization validation in enterprise systems and highlights the need for continuous security assessment of mission-critical applications.