SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence…: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CVE-2023-37490 is a critical-severity uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (Installer) from SAP, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.0 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (Installer) versions: 420; 430. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.27% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (Installer) 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 BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (Installer) | 420; 430 | Not stated |
| SAP | Businessobjects Business Intelligence | 420; 430 | 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
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- 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
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.6 | High | CNA (sap.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.0 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
SAP Business Objects Installer - versions 420, 430, allows an authenticated attacker within the network to overwrite an executable file created in a temporary directory during the installation process. On replacing this executable with a malicious file, an attacker can completely compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Hard-code the search path to a set of known-safe values (such as system directories), or only allow them to be specified by the administrator in a configuration file. Do not allow these settings to be modified by an external party. Be careful to avoid related weaknesses such as CWE-426 and CWE-428.
- When invoking other programs, specify those programs using fully-qualified pathnames. While this is an effective approach, code that uses fully-qualified pathnames might not be portable to other systems that do not use the same pathnames. The portability can be improved by locating the full-qualified paths in a centralized, easily-modifiable location within the source code, and having the code refer to these paths.
- Remove or restrict all environment settings before invoking other programs. This includes the PATH environment variable, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and other settings that identify the location of code libraries, and any application-specific search paths.
More Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities (CWE-427)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
- me.sap.com/notes/3317710Permissions Required
Recent Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
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