CVE-2022-22536
About
SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP, SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java, ABAP Platform, SAP Content Server 7.53 and SAP Web Dispatcher are vulnerable for request smuggling and request concatenation. An unauthenticated attacker can prepend a victim's request with arbitrary data. This way, the attacker can execute functions impersonating the victim or poison intermediary Web caches. A successful attack could result in complete compromise of Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability of the system.
Rainforest analyst review
The flaw lives in how SAP's Web Dispatcher and the NetWeaver ABAP/Java application servers disagree about where one HTTP request ends and the next begins. By crafting a request with conflicting Content-Length and Transfer-Encoding headers, an unauthenticated attacker smuggles a second request past the front-end proxy so it gets glued onto the front of a legitimate user's request. The victim's authenticated session then carries the attacker's prepended data, letting the attacker execute functions as that user or poison shared web caches so other clients are served attacker-controlled responses.
SAP NetWeaver underpins ERP, finance, HR, and supply-chain processes for a large share of the world's largest enterprises, and these servers frequently sit reachable behind load balancers rather than fully isolated. Because the attack needs no credentials and rides on real user sessions, it hands over confidentiality, integrity, and availability of a business-critical system. This was the ICMAD set of bugs disclosed by Onapsis and SAP together; patch the affected Web Dispatcher, ABAP, Java, and Content Server components immediately, and treat any internet-exposed SAP front-end as a priority since request smuggling defeats perimeter controls in front of it.
References
Related CVEs
No related CVEs.
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2022-22536?
SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP, SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java, ABAP Platform, SAP Content Server 7.53 and SAP Web Dispatcher are vulnerable for request smuggling and request concatenation. An unauthenticated attacker can prepend a victim's request with arbitrary data. This way, the attacker can execute functions impersonating the victim or poison intermediary Web caches.
How severe is CVE-2022-22536?
CVE-2022-22536 carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10, rated critical. On the Rainforest Risk Index — which weighs the severity alongside how easy the flaw is to reach and how broad its impact is — it scores 100 out of 100, in the critical band.
How is CVE-2022-22536 exploited?
According to the CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H): attack vector Network, attack complexity Low, privileges required None, user interaction None. Impact on confidentiality High, integrity High and availability High.
Which products are affected by CVE-2022-22536?
Public advisories list the following as affected: content server, netweaver application server abap, web dispatcher. Check the references on this page for the exact versions each vendor confirms.
How do I fix CVE-2022-22536?
Apply the fix the vendor published — the references on this page link to the primary advisories and patches. When patching can't happen right away, reduce the exposure of the affected component and watch it for exploitation attempts. Rainforest customers see this vulnerability correlated to their own assets and prioritized by real exposure, not by score alone.
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