Unauthorized modification of displayed content in PA-XF, SAP security note 1505855

SAP security note 1505855, “Unauthorized modification of displayed content in PA-XF”, is a note. Below are the symptom, reason and prerequisites, SAP recommended solution and references.

Description

Symptom

The Expert Finder can be abused by a malicious user, allowing them to modify displayed application content without authorization and potentially obtain authentication information from other legitimate users.

Solution

• Import the Support Package specified in this note into your system. You can download the necessary support packages here.
• Alternatively, if you do not use the Expert Finder at all, you can deactivate the service HR_EXPERT in transaction SICF.

Reason and prerequisites

BSP Pages detail.htm, hitlist.htm, and profile.htm within the BSP Application HR_EXPERT do not sufficiently encode output parameters, resulting in a reflected cross site scripting issue. A reflected cross site scripting attack can be used to non-permanently deface or modify displayed content from a website.

Additionally, reflected cross site scripting can be used to steal another user's authentication information, such as data relating to their current session. An attacker who gains access to this data may use it to impersonate the user and access all information with the same rights as the target user. In the case of an administrator being impersonated, a full compromise of the application's security may occur.

References

• 873887 – Release strategy for HCM Expert Finder