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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.
SAP HANA base administrators can master the database in a way that wasn't possible back then. The SAP database is much more self-healing. Errors do less damage, are easier to detect and fix, and are less likely to impact system performance and availability before they are fixed. Monitoring tools can automatically scan the application logs, identify potential errors, and even suggest fixes, making it much easier to get to the root of the problem.
TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT
Critical business processes require a secure, efficient and stable operation of an SAP system landscape. High demands on the management as well as the operation of the underlying SAP NetWeaver platform require competent support in all tasks of planning, support and updating of the SAP Basis. The increase in installed components as well as systems integrated via interfaces expands these needs. Only with professional care and maintenance of its components can SAP NetWeaver bring its advantages as an integrative platform to bear.
An SAP HANA system lives on applications. When you develop these applications, you should think about securing them early. Using HTTPS instead of HTTP is one of the basics. In addition, you ensure secure authentication and implement a Secure Software Development Lifecycle to ensure backup in your own developments. In your applications, you better start to check them for risks early on and run this backup process regularly. You can analyse and restrict access to source code later. Create a risk register and address security vulnerabilities in a risk-based manner. The later you discover a risk, the more expensive the fix will be. Further information on SAP Security in addition to the article can be found here. Do you have any further questions or suggestions concerning this topic? Would you like us to go further on the subject? I look forward to your feedback!
Use "Shortcut for SAP Systems" to accomplish many tasks in the SAP basis more easily and quickly.
Following the recommendation of dividing the SAP basis into an application-orientated and infrastructure-related SAP basis [A4], Figure 3 shows a possible presentation form.
In your applications, you better start to check them for risks early on and run this backup process regularly.