SAP SQL Anywhere: Insecure Inherited Permissions
CVE-2023-33990 is a high-severity insecure inherited permissions vulnerability in SAP SQL Anywhere from SAP, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected SAP SQL Anywhere versions: 17.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of SAP SQL Anywhere you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on sap.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAP | SAP SQL Anywhere | 17.0 | Not stated |
| SAP | SQL Anywhere | 17.0 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CNA (sap.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.1 | High | NVD |
Official description
SAP SQL Anywhere - version 17.0, allows an attacker to prevent legitimate users from accessing the service by crashing the service. An attacker with low privileged account and access to the local system can write into the shared memory objects. This can be leveraged by an attacker to perform a Denial of Service. Further, an attacker might be able to modify sensitive data in shared memory objects.This issue only affects SAP SQL Anywhere on Windows. Other platforms are not impacted.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insecure Inherited Permissions
A product defines a set of insecure permissions that are inherited by objects that are created by the program.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
More Insecure Inherited Permissions vulnerabilities (CWE-277)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
- me.sap.com/notes/3331029Permissions Required
Other vulnerabilities in SAP SQL Anywhere
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Insecure Inherited Permissions vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
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