CVE-2023-49580 Overview
CVE-2023-49580 is an information disclosure and improper access control vulnerability affecting SAP GUI for Windows and SAP GUI for Java across multiple SAP_BASIS versions. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to access restricted and confidential information without proper authorization. Additionally, the attacker can manipulate Layout configurations of the ABAP List Viewer (ALV), resulting in impacts to both system integrity and availability, including degraded response times on the AS ABAP server.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can access confidential information and modify ABAP List Viewer configurations, affecting system performance and data integrity across enterprise SAP environments.
Affected Products
- SAP GUI for Windows - SAP_BASIS 755
- SAP GUI for Windows - SAP_BASIS 756
- SAP GUI for Windows - SAP_BASIS 757
- SAP GUI for Windows - SAP_BASIS 758
- SAP GUI for Java - SAP_BASIS 755
- SAP GUI for Java - SAP_BASIS 756
- SAP GUI for Java - SAP_BASIS 757
- SAP GUI for Java - SAP_BASIS 758
Discovery Timeline
- December 12, 2023 - CVE-2023-49580 published to NVD
- November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-49580
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from incorrect permission assignment for critical resources (CWE-732) within the SAP GUI client applications. The flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to bypass access controls and retrieve information that should be restricted to authorized users only. The attack can be executed over the network without requiring user interaction or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where SAP systems often contain sensitive business data.
The vulnerability has a dual impact: first, it enables information disclosure by exposing confidential data to unauthorized parties; second, it allows attackers to create and modify Layout configurations within the ABAP List Viewer component. These unauthorized configuration changes can degrade system performance by increasing response times on the AS ABAP application server, affecting overall system availability for legitimate users.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2023-49580 is improper permission assignment for critical resources (CWE-732) in the SAP GUI application. The SAP GUI client fails to properly validate and enforce access controls when handling requests related to information retrieval and ALV Layout configuration management. This allows unauthenticated users to perform actions that should require proper authentication and authorization, bypassing the intended security boundaries between authenticated and unauthenticated access levels.
Attack Vector
The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network. An attacker can target SAP GUI clients without requiring any authentication credentials or user interaction. The attack involves sending specially crafted requests to the SAP GUI application that exploit the improper permission assignment, allowing the attacker to:
- Access information that should be restricted and confidential
- Create or modify ABAP List Viewer Layout configurations
- Potentially cause denial of service conditions through increased response times
The network-based attack vector with no authentication requirements significantly increases the risk exposure for organizations running vulnerable SAP_BASIS versions.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-49580
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected or unauthorized ALV Layout configuration changes appearing in SAP systems
- Anomalous network traffic patterns to SAP GUI services from unauthenticated sources
- Unexplained increases in AS ABAP response times without corresponding legitimate workload increases
- Log entries indicating access to restricted information without valid authentication tokens
Detection Strategies
- Monitor SAP GUI connection logs for authentication anomalies and unauthenticated access attempts
- Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify suspicious traffic patterns targeting SAP GUI ports
- Audit ALV Layout configuration changes and alert on modifications from unexpected sources
- Deploy SentinelOne Singularity XDR to detect and correlate suspicious activities across SAP infrastructure endpoints
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on SAP GUI server components to capture detailed access patterns
- Configure SIEM correlation rules to identify potential exploitation attempts based on access patterns
- Establish baseline metrics for AS ABAP response times to detect performance degradation attacks
- Regularly audit user access logs and configuration change histories within SAP systems
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-49580
Immediate Actions Required
- Review and apply SAP Security Note #3385711 immediately to address the vulnerability
- Audit existing ALV Layout configurations for unauthorized changes
- Restrict network access to SAP GUI services using firewall rules and network segmentation
- Implement additional authentication requirements at the network level where possible
Patch Information
SAP has released a security update to address CVE-2023-49580. Organizations should apply the fix detailed in SAP Security Note #3385711. The patch addresses the improper permission assignment issue by implementing proper access control validation for information access and ALV Layout configuration operations. For additional security guidance, refer to the SAP Security Documentation.
Workarounds
- Implement network-level access controls to restrict SAP GUI access to trusted IP ranges only
- Enable additional authentication mechanisms at the network perimeter for SAP GUI connections
- Monitor and audit ALV Layout configuration changes until patches can be applied
- Consider isolating vulnerable SAP systems in segmented network zones with enhanced monitoring
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
