Strengthening SAP Security with SecurityBridge RFC Penetration Testing
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In every SAP landscape, remote function call (RFC) connections are vital for system interaction. They link development, testing, and production environments. However, this ease of connection comes with significant risks. Misconfigured RFC destinations can create hidden backdoors into crucial systems.
This is where the SecurityBridge RFC Penetration Testing Tool demonstrates its worth. Built into the SecurityBridge platform, it helps organizations find, confirm, and fix insecure RFC connections before attackers can exploit them.
Why RFC Needs Security Attention
- Core Integration Technology: RFC supports SAP features like BAPI® and ALE, and is essential for ABAP-based NetWeaver Application Servers.
- Shared Credentials: Often, RFC destinations contain a single user ID that is used by everyone in the calling system. If that user has broad access, all connected users gain those permissions.
- RFC Hopping Risk: Attackers can exploit weak RFC setups to transition from a development system to a test system or a production system, thereby gaining unauthorised access to sensitive data and processes.
Without proper controls, a low-risk environment can quickly become a way for privilege escalation and system compromise.
SecurityBridge RFC Penetration Testing: Key Capabilities
1. Automated Vulnerability Scanning
- Identifies all RFC destinations across active systems.
- Flags destinations that skip manual logon and depend on stored credentials.
- Checks whether inherited permissions on the target system are too broad.
2. Detection of Non-Working Destinations
- Highlights RFC connections with outdated or invalid credentials.
- Reduces unnecessary clutter in system landscapes.
- Assists Basis teams in fixing or safely removing these entries.
3. Comprehensive System Coverage
- All systems marked as active in the SecurityBridge cockpit are automatically included.
- Connections pointing outside the SecurityBridge scope are also checked.
- Starting with version 6.31, tests collect connection map data for ABAP, Java, and WebDispatcher agents.
4. Centralized Testing Execution
- Penetration tests are conducted from the SecurityBridge Controller system to ensure consistent execution.
- Administrators can run an extensive landscape test or focus on specific systems.
- Results are stored in dedicated SecurityBridge tracking tables and are directly linked to the intrusion detection scanner for ongoing monitoring.
How It Enhances SAP Security
- Reduces Attack Surface – Removes outdated or insecure connections, making it tougher for attackers to move between systems.
- Prevents RFC Hopping – Identifies when a destination allows excessive access, stopping unauthorized privilege escalation before it starts.
- Improves Operational Hygiene – Promotes regular maintenance of RFC destinations, leading to less clutter and managing risks.
- Delivers Actionable Intelligence – Testing results and connection maps give security and Basis teams clear, prioritized steps for remediation.
In summary, it transforms RFC testing from a manual, error-prone process into an automatic, proactive measure that integrates seamlessly into the broader SecurityBridge platform.
Best Practices for Using the Tool
- Run Regular Tests – Constant monitoring ensures new RFC connections are checked as soon as they are created.
- Avoid Retesting Broken Destinations Repeatedly – This can cause user lockouts if invalid credentials are stored. Instead, remove or fix them.
- Prioritize Critical Findings – Destinations with stored privileged credentials and broad permissions should be addressed immediately
Conclusion
RFC is central to SAP system communication, but if left unmanaged, it is also a prime target for attackers. The SecurityBridge RFC Penetration Testing Tool provides organizations with a powerful, automatic way to:
• Detect insecure RFC destinations
• Prevent privilege escalation through RFC hopping
• Maintain a clean and secure SAP landscape
By incorporating penetration testing into regular SAP security measures, SecurityBridge helps keep your vital systems resilient, compliant, and protected against changing threats.
In addition, SecurityBridge offers a comprehensive range of solutions to enhance security and efficiency across various business functions. With features like Threat Detection, Vulnerability Management, Patch Management, and Custom Code Security, SecurityBridge helps you efficiently improve the security of your SAP systems. For more SAP security-related news, articles, and whitepapers, please follow us on LinkedIn.
