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Vulnerability Database/CVE-2025-23190

CVE-2025-23190: SAP Authorization Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-23190 is an authorization bypass vulnerability in SAP that allows authenticated attackers to access unauthorized data through a remote-enabled function module. This post explains its impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.

Published:

CVE-2025-23190 Overview

CVE-2025-23190 is a missing authorization check vulnerability [CWE-862] in an SAP remote-enabled function module. An authenticated attacker can invoke the function module and read data that would normally be restricted by application-level access controls. The flaw does not allow modification of data or affect system availability, limiting the impact to confidentiality only. SAP addressed the issue as part of its monthly Security Patch Day release cycle.

Critical Impact

An authenticated attacker with low privileges can remotely call the affected function module over the network to disclose data outside their normal authorization scope.

Affected Products

  • SAP application component addressed in SAP Note #3547581
  • Specific product name and versions are not enumerated in the NVD record
  • Refer to the SAP Security Patch Day announcement for the impacted release list

Discovery Timeline

  • 2025-02-11 - CVE-2025-23190 published to the National Vulnerability Database
  • 2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-23190

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in a remote-enabled function module (RFM) exposed through the SAP Remote Function Call (RFC) interface. RFMs are callable by any authenticated user who can reach the RFC endpoint, and each module is expected to perform its own authorization checks against the invoking user's roles. In this case the module omits that check, so the SAP kernel returns data without verifying that the caller holds the required authorization objects.

Because the attacker must already hold valid credentials, exploitation typically requires either a compromised business account or an insider with baseline access to the SAP system. Impact is limited to unauthorized disclosure of data. The module does not permit write operations, and calling it does not degrade system performance.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing AUTHORITY-CHECK statement, or an equivalent authorization object validation, inside the ABAP implementation of the remote-enabled function module. Under SAP's shared-responsibility model, the developer of an RFM must explicitly verify that the caller is entitled to the requested data before returning it. Without that check, the module trusts the transport-layer authentication and skips business-level access control.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network through the RFC protocol or an RFC-exposed web service such as SOAP or OData wrappers. The attacker authenticates with valid SAP credentials, then issues a function call to the vulnerable RFM with crafted input parameters that request records outside the attacker's assigned scope. The server executes the function and returns the data. No user interaction and no elevated privileges are required beyond a standard authenticated session. Technical details are described in SAP Note #3547581.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23190

Indicators of Compromise

  • Unexpected RFC calls to the function module identified in SAP Note #3547581 from user accounts that do not normally use it
  • Anomalous volume of read requests from a single authenticated user against sensitive tables reachable through the RFM
  • RFC gateway logs showing calls originating from workstations or hosts outside typical business patterns

Detection Strategies

  • Enable SAP Security Audit Log (SM19/RSAU_CONFIG) events for successful and failed RFC function calls
  • Correlate RFC call logs with the affected user's assigned authorization roles to surface access outside expected scope
  • Ingest SAP audit and gateway logs into a SIEM for baseline analysis of RFM invocation patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

  • Alert on first-time invocation of the affected function module by any user account
  • Track spikes in data volume returned by RFC calls from a single session
  • Review SAP UCON (Unified Connectivity) allowlists to detect RFMs newly reachable from external clients

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23190

Immediate Actions Required

  • Apply the SAP security patch referenced in SAP Note #3547581 to affected systems
  • Review the SAP Security Patch Day bulletin to confirm the impacted product and support package levels
  • Rotate credentials for any service accounts observed calling the vulnerable module without a business justification

Patch Information

SAP released the fix through its regular Security Patch Day process. Administrators should download and apply the correction from SAP Note #3547581 following standard change management. Consult the SAP Security Patch Day Announcement for the full list of notes released alongside CVE-2025-23190.

Workarounds

  • Use SAP Unified Connectivity (UCON) to block or restrict external RFC access to the affected function module until the patch is applied
  • Tighten authorization role assignments so fewer users can reach the RFC interface exposing the module
  • Enforce network segmentation between untrusted clients and SAP application servers hosting the RFC gateway
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# Configuration example
# Review SAP Note #3547581 for the exact correction instructions and
# apply through SPAM/SAINT or the SAP Software Update Manager (SUM).

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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