Potential security risks in application processes in IDM systems
Relevance of SAP Basis
The monitoring of SAP systems, for example, is handled by modern AIOPs software, which permanently performs essential checks thanks to regular checks. This allows us to focus on optimizing your SAP systems, not only reactively in the event of an error, but also proactively to avoid possible errors before they occur.
User authentication is usually performed by entering a user name and password. This information is called user credentials and should only be known to the user, so that no third party can gain access to the system under a false identity. This post explains how a user's password protection can be circumvented and how to prevent it. SAP system legacy data The login data of a user, including password, are saved in the USR02 database table. However, the password is not in plain text, but encrypted as a hash value. For each user there are not only one but up to three generated password hashes. Different algorithms are used to calculate these values, but only the Salted SHA1 can be considered sufficiently safe. Table deduction USR02 The secure password hash is located in the fifth column of the pictured table deduction with the heading Password hash value. The corresponding data field in the column is called PWDSALTEDHASH. Weak Password Hash Risks You have a good and working permission concept that ensures that no processes or data can be manipulated or stolen. A potential attacker now has the ability to read out your database with the password hashes. The hash values are calculated using password crackers, which are available on the Internet at home, and the attacker now has a long list of user credentials. To damage your system, the user will now search for the appropriate permissions and perform the attack under a false identity. Identifying the actual attacker is virtually impossible. Check if your system is vulnerable too Your system generates the weak hash values if the login/password_downwards_compatibility profile parameter has an unequal value of 0.
What is the difference between SAP Basis and SAP ABAP?
A role concept according to best practice protects you from potential attacks within your SAP landscape. However, to protect your system from unauthorized access via the network, a correct configuration of the SAP gateway is required. It enables the use of external programs via interfaces or the call of ABAP programs and serves as a technical component of the application server, which manages the communication of all RFC-based functions.
SAP Basis Support ensures secure operation of the SAP system landscape. For proper operation of the SAP system, the database and operating systems must be checked on a daily basis.
Some missing SAP basic functions in the standard are supplied by the PC application "Shortcut for SAP Systems".
Resetting the status should only be used to troubleshoot the issue and you should repeat the playback as soon as possible.
If you are having problems working with SPAM, read the note 17381This note gives you an overview of known problems and their solutions.