CVE-2025-23186: SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP Vulnerability Exposing Remote Credentials

Overview

CVE-2025-23186 is a critical vulnerability discovered in SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP. With an alarming CVSS severity score of 8.5, this security flaw can potentially compromise systems and result in data leakage. This vulnerability affects all organizations using unpatched versions of SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP. Its severity stems from the fact that it allows authenticated attackers to expose credentials for a remote service, thereby compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application.

Vulnerability Summary

– CVE ID: CVE-2025-23186
– Severity: Critical (CVSS Severity Score: 8.5)
– Attack Vector: Remote Function Call (RFC)
– Privileges Required: User-level privileges
– User Interaction: Required
– Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP | All Unpatched Versions

How the Exploit Works

This vulnerability exploits the fact that under certain conditions, SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP allows authenticated attackers to craft a Remote Function Call (RFC) request to restricted destinations. The attacker can then use this RFC request to expose the credentials for a remote service. Once the credentials are exposed, the attacker can further exploit them to completely compromise the remote service, resulting in a significant impact on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application.

Conceptual Example Code

The potential exploitation of this vulnerability might be implemented in the following conceptual code snippet:

DATA: lv_rfcdest TYPE rfcdest VALUE 'TARGET_REMOTE_SERVICE',
lt_credentials TYPE STANDARD TABLE OF s_authority,
wa_credentials TYPE s_authority.
CALL FUNCTION 'RFC_READ_TABLE' DESTINATION lv_rfcdest
EXPORTING
query_table = 'S_USER_AUTH'
TABLES
data_tab = lt_credentials.
READ TABLE lt_credentials INTO wa_credentials INDEX 1.
WRITE:/ 'User:', wa_credentials-low(10), 'Password:', wa_credentials-high(10).

This conceptual code represents an ABAP program that uses the ‘RFC_READ_TABLE’ function module to read the ‘S_USER_AUTH’ table from a remote SAP system. The credentials are then extracted from the returned data and displayed. Please note that this is a conceptual example and does not reflect the actual exploitation process, which may be more complex and require additional steps.

Mitigation Guidance

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-23186, users are advised to apply the vendor-provided patch as soon as possible. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation. These tools can detect and block suspicious activities, providing an additional layer of protection until the patch can be applied. Regular audit of system logs and network traffic can also help detect any unusual activities related to this vulnerability.