CVE-2024-21738 : Security Advisory and Response

This is a detailed overview of the CVE-2024-21738 vulnerability, focusing on its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2024-21738

CVE-2024-21738 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in SAP NetWeaver ABAP Application Server and ABAP Platform. The vulnerability arises due to the insufficient encoding of user-controlled inputs, which could potentially lead to an attacker executing malicious scripts on the targeted system.

What is CVE-2024-21738?

The vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver ABAP Application Server and ABAP Platform allows attackers with low privileges to exploit the lack of input encoding, potentially compromising the confidentiality of application data. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could result in a limited impact on the confidentiality of the application's data.

The Impact of CVE-2024-21738

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity with a base score of 4.1 according to the CVSS v3.1 scoring system. The attack complexity is considered low, and user interaction is required for exploitation. While the availability impact is none, the confidentiality impact is low, and integrity impact is none. Privileges required for exploitation are low, and the scope is changed. The attack vector is through the network.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-21738

The following technical details shed light on the vulnerability, affected systems, and how the exploitation can occur.

Vulnerability Description

The lack of sufficient encoding of user-controlled inputs in SAP NetWeaver ABAP Application Server and ABAP Platform results in a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. This enables attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts, potentially compromising the confidentiality of application data.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects various versions of SAP_BASIS in the SAP NetWeaver ABAP Application Server and ABAP Platform. Versions affected include SAP_BASIS 700, 701, 702, 731, 740, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 793, and 794.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts via user-controlled inputs. This could lead to a breach of confidentiality, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive application data.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2024-21738 vulnerability, it is crucial to implement immediate steps and adopt long-term security practices to safeguard systems from potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by SAP to address the vulnerability in affected systems promptly.
Monitor and restrict user inputs to prevent the injection of malicious scripts.
Educate users and administrators on cybersecurity best practices to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in the system.
Implement strict input validation mechanisms to sanitize and encode user inputs effectively.
Stay informed about security updates and advisories from SAP to proactively protect systems from emerging threats.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the SAP security notes and documents provided to apply relevant patches and updates to SAP NetWeaver ABAP Application Server and ABAP Platform. Regularly check for new patches and security advisories to ensure the system's security posture is up to date.