CVE-2024-27902 in NetWeaver AS ABAP
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2024
Applications based on SAP GUI for HTML in SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP - versions 7.89, 7.93, do not sufficiently encode user-controlled inputs, resulting in Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. A successful attack can allow a malicious attacker to access and modify data through their ability to execute code in a user’s browser. There is no impact on the availability of the system
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27902 affects SAP GUI for HTML applications running on SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP versions 7.89 and 7.93. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of web-based SAP interfaces by failing to properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them in browser contexts. The affected applications utilize HTML-based interfaces that process user data through web forms, navigation elements, and dynamic content generation, creating multiple potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit this weakness.
The core technical flaw manifests in insufficient input encoding mechanisms within the SAP GUI for HTML implementation, specifically when processing user-supplied data in web contexts. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which occurs when web applications fail to properly escape or encode data before incorporating it into HTML output. The lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious script code that executes within the victim's browser context, enabling unauthorized data access and modification capabilities. The vulnerability affects the HTML rendering layer where user inputs are processed and displayed without adequate protection against cross-site scripting attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within user browser sessions, potentially leading to complete session hijacking and privilege escalation within SAP environments. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, modify application data, access sensitive business information, and perform unauthorized transactions. The vulnerability does not compromise system availability as noted in the description, but rather focuses on confidentiality and integrity aspects of the SAP application stack. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in significant business disruption through data manipulation or unauthorized access to critical enterprise resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-27902 should prioritize immediate application of SAP security patches and updates released for the affected versions, while implementing additional protective measures such as input validation at multiple layers including application firewalls, web application firewalls, and content security policies. Organizations should also consider implementing proper output encoding mechanisms, restricting user input to predefined character sets, and conducting regular security assessments of SAP web interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal, as it enables unauthorized access to SAP application data through browser-based exploitation, and may also map to T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, given the JavaScript-based nature of the XSS payload execution. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns and conduct regular security training for developers working with SAP GUI for HTML applications to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.