CVE-2022-22528 - A Deep Dive into SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) 16. Installer Privilege Escalation Vulnerability on Windows

In this long read, we will dig deeper into the CVE-2022-22528 security vulnerability, which affects the SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) version 16. on the Windows operating system. This issue stems from the ASE installer, and it can lead to privilege escalation on the local system. It's essential to understand the full scope of this vulnerability, its potential impacts, and how to address it to keep your enterprise systems secure from malicious attacks.

Vulnerability Details

To understand the CVE-2022-22528 vulnerability, it's essential first to grasp the basics of the SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise. ASE is a high-performance database server used extensively by organizations to manage vast amounts of data and transactions.

The specific issue at hand, CVE-2022-22528, revolves around the way the ASE installer interacts with the Windows operating system. During the installation process, an entry is made in the system PATH environment variable. If certain conditions are met, this could enable a Standard User on the Windows system to execute malicious Windows binaries. The result is a privilege escalation on the local system, which can be exploited by attackers.

Let's examine a scenario wherein an attacker brings this exploit to fruition

# Attacker creates a malicious binary called 'ping.exe'
with open("C:\Temp\ping.exe", "w") as f:
    f.write("<malicious code>")

# Attacker then sets the PATH environment variable
import os
os.environ["PATH"] = "C:\Temp;" + os.environ["PATH"]

# Attacker convinces the Standard User to execute the 'ping' command
os.system("ping")

In this code snippet, the attacker writes a malicious binary called ping.exe to a location accessible by the Standard User. They then manipulate the PATH environment variable, including the binary's location. When the Standard User issues a command using the 'ping' keyword, the system will execute the malicious 'ping.exe' instead of the legitimate 'ping.exe' file, leading to privilege escalation and providing the attacker with greater control over the system.

Original References and Additional Resources

The CVE-2022-22528 vulnerability has been documented and acknowledged by various sources, including the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), SAP's official notices, and prominent security researchers. For more information, consult the following links:

1. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) - CVE-2022-22528
2. SAP Security Note - Adaptive Server Enterprise Privilege Escalation
3. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) 3.1 Calculator

Mitigation and Best Practices

When dealing with security vulnerabilities, it's crucial to follow best practices and implement measures to mitigate the risks. SAP has acknowledged this vulnerability and indicated that the issue lies within the ASE installer, not affecting other ASE binaries. Below are some steps to help secure your system against this threat:

1. Apply the relevant patches and updates provided by SAP, as mentioned in the SAP Security Note.
2. Restrict access to the affected Windows system only to trusted, authenticated users with proper permissions.
3. Use a security solution to monitor your systems for signs of privilege escalation attacks or other malicious activities actively.
4. Regularly review and update your software inventory to ensure that all applications are up-to-date and secured against known vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-22528 is a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) 16. on the Windows operating system. By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can potentially execute malicious Windows binaries under certain conditions, leading to privilege escalation on the affected system. It's crucial to understand the risks associated with this vulnerability and take appropriate action to ensure the security of your systems. By staying informed and implementing best practices, you can effectively mitigate this vulnerability and protect your enterprise from potential attacks.

Timeline

Published on: 02/09/2022 23:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/24/2022 16:15:00 UTC