CVE-2024-44120 in NetWeaver Enterprise Portal
Summary
by MITRE • 09/10/2024
SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal is vulnerable to reflected cross site scripting due to insufficient encoding of user-controlled input. An unauthenticated attacker could craft a malicious URL and trick a user to click it. If the victim clicks on this crafted URL before it times out, then the attacker could read and manipulate user content in the browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2025
SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal presents a critical reflected cross site scripting vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation and encoding mechanisms within its web application framework. This vulnerability specifically affects the portal's handling of user-controlled data in HTTP request parameters, where the application fails to properly sanitize or encode input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web responses. The flaw exists at the application layer where user-supplied parameters are directly reflected back to the browser without appropriate security measures to prevent malicious script execution. According to CWE-79, this represents a classic cross site scripting vulnerability where the application does not adequately neutralize user input that is subsequently used in web page generation. The vulnerability impacts the portal's authentication and authorization mechanisms by allowing attackers to manipulate user sessions and access sensitive content through maliciously crafted URLs.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to construct a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads that will be reflected back to the victim's browser when the user clicks on the link. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but rather injected into the response through the vulnerable parameter handling mechanism. This type of attack is categorized under the ATT&CK framework as T1566.001 - Phishing, where attackers use crafted web links to deceive users into executing malicious code. The vulnerability does not require authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as any user interacting with the malicious link could be compromised. The attack vector typically involves the attacker crafting a URL with embedded JavaScript or other malicious payloads that are then executed in the victim's browser context, potentially allowing for session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the authenticated user's privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of the SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive user data, manipulate portal content, or establish persistent access through session manipulation techniques. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of information processed through the portal, as user sessions and content can be hijacked or modified. The reflected nature of the attack means that the malicious script execution occurs in real-time during the user's interaction with the portal, making detection more challenging. Organizations using SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal face significant risk of unauthorized access to business-critical applications and data, particularly in environments where the portal serves as a gateway to enterprise applications and services. The vulnerability impacts the portal's ability to maintain secure user sessions and could lead to broader security incidents if the compromised user has elevated privileges within the SAP environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's request handling pipeline. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized and encoded before being incorporated into web responses, particularly in parameters that are reflected back to the browser. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while proper input validation frameworks should be deployed to prevent malicious payloads from being processed. SAP recommends applying the latest security patches and updates to address this vulnerability, as well as implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their SAP environments. The mitigation approach should align with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, ensuring comprehensive protection against cross site scripting attacks while maintaining the portal's functionality and user experience. Regular security awareness training for administrators and users can also help prevent successful exploitation through social engineering techniques that rely on user interaction with malicious links.