CVE-2023-35874 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Understanding CVE-2023-35874

This article explores the details of CVE-2023-35874, an improper authentication vulnerability found in SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP and ABAP Platform.

What is CVE-2023-35874?

SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP and ABAP Platform, across multiple versions, can perform improper authentication checks for functionalities requiring user identity. This allows an attacker to execute malicious actions over the network, potentially impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The Impact of CVE-2023-35874

The vulnerability's CVSS v3.1 base score is 6 classified as medium severity. With a high attack complexity and network-based attack vector, the issue poses a low impact on availability, confidentiality, and integrity. An attacker with low privileges can exploit this to change the system's scope without user interaction.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-35874

This section provides a deeper insight into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP and ABAP Platform versions KRNL64NUC, 7.22, 7.22EXT, 7.53, KERNEL 7.22, 7.53, 7.77, 7.81, 7.85, 7.89, 7.54, 7.92, and 7.93 are affected. Improper authentication checks can lead to unauthorized access and abuse of user functionalities, potentially compromising system security.

Affected Systems and Versions

The impacted systems include SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP and ABAP Platform versions mentioned above.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network, circumventing proper authentication mechanisms to carry out malicious activities.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-35874, users should take immediate steps and adopt long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the recommended patches provided by SAP for the affected versions promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement multi-factor authentication to strengthen user identity verification.
Regularly update and patch the SAP NetWeaver AS ABAP and ABAP Platform to mitigate future vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from SAP and apply patches as soon as they are released to ensure the system's protection.