CVE-2017-16681 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

SAP Business Intelligence Promotion Management Application versions 4.10, 4.20, and 4.30 are affected by a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability due to inadequate encoding of user-controlled inputs.

Understanding CVE-2017-16681

This CVE involves a security issue in SAP Business Intelligence Promotion Management Application.

What is CVE-2017-16681?

CVE-2017-16681 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SAP Business Intelligence Promotion Management Application versions 4.10, 4.20, and 4.30. The vulnerability arises from insufficient encoding of user inputs.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16681

The presence of this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16681

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in SAP Business Intelligence Promotion Management Application versions 4.10, 4.20, and 4.30 is classified as a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue. It stems from the lack of proper encoding of user inputs, enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: SAP Business Intelligence Promotion Management Application
Vendor: SAP
Versions Affected: Enterprise 4.10, 4.20, 4.30

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into user-controlled inputs, taking advantage of the lack of proper encoding to execute unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-16681 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by SAP promptly to address the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict user inputs to prevent malicious script injections.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to sanitize and validate user inputs effectively.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update and patch the SAP Business Intelligence Promotion Management Application to ensure that known vulnerabilities, including CVE-2017-16681, are mitigated effectively.