February 1, 2023

Missing SAP Authority vulnerability check

Enterprises all over the world widely utilize SAP systems to handle company operations. As a result, these systems must stay safe and secure against potential vulnerabilities. This article will discuss the “Missing SAP Authority Vulnerability Check” as a specific vulnerability type that can affect SAP systems.

This vulnerability has major implications for firms that use SAP systems since it allows unauthorized users to access critical corporate data and do actions, they should not be able to undertake. This post will go through what this vulnerability is, the risks it poses to SAP users, and techniques for mitigating and working around it.

What is a Missing Authorization Vulnerability in SAP ABAP/4?

A programming flaw caused the “Missing SAP Authority Check Vulnerability” in SAP systems. You can secure ABAP/4 applications and transactions using an authorization concept if the function’s developer(s) have planned for necessary authorization checks within SAP systems. There must be explicit SAP authorization checks in the code. It will validate the ownership of an authorization object to determine whether the caller user has permission to conduct a specific action.

In SAP standard functions, a so-called return code allows the developer to determine whether or not the authorization check was successful. Unfortunately, there are numerous scenarios where the authorization check exists, but the logic to handle the check’s response does not exist or is insufficient. Inappropriate system configurations or a lack of appropriate user roles can cause this problem.

If the SAP team discovers a flaw, they issue an SAP Security Note on the monthly SAP Security Patch Day. This vulnerability, however, does not only exist in the SAP standard product but also, in our experience, in the customer’s own developed programs.

What is the impact of Missing Authorization Vulnerability?

This vulnerability may allow unauthorized users to access critical business data and perform actions they should not be able to accomplish. This can lead to data breaches, sensitive information loss, and financial losses. Furthermore, someone can exploit this vulnerability to interrupt corporate operations and harm the organization’s reputation.

Without security-relevant authorization checks, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability easily. An attacker can use the vulnerability to access critical corporate data such as financial information, customer information, and secret papers. Additionally, a threat actor could exploit the vulnerability to get access and manipulate vital business data, disrupt corporate operations, or even bring the SAP system to a halt.

How can SecurityBridge help?

SAP customers frequently find it challenging to keep up with the publication of SAP security notes for the extensive product portfolio. With SecurityBridge Patch Management (link), you can ensure that relevant security patches for your SAP application installation are always known and implemented without delay.

It is, however, also possible for the customer’s development team to check for these types of vulnerabilities. The SecurityBridge Code Vulnerability Analyzer offers essential functions for this purpose, which are constantly available throughout the development process. This way guarantees the security of the customer’s programs.

If you are unable to apply a patch or it is not available yet, use SecurityBridge Threat Detection to keep an eye out for exploits.