SAP Patch Day
A Complete Guide to SAP Security Notes

Intro to SAP Patch Day

Overview of SAP Security Notes and SAP Patch Day

SAP launched a regular SAP Security Patch Day, scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month — which has been synchronized with the Security Patch Day of other major software vendors, based on feedback from customers.

On these SAP Patch Days, SAP publishes software corrections as SAP Security Notes, focused solely on security to protect against potential weaknesses or attacks. SAP recommends that organizations implement these corrections as a priority for strong SAP Security.

Importance of SAP’s monthly security updates

The importance of SAP’s monthly security updates is vital to SAP’s integrity and the organization as whole. It’s of the utmost importance for SAP to hold themselves to the highest standard of security, and ensuring all users of their solutions have patches readily available is paramount.

Why organizations need to stay up to date with SAP patches

To protect themselves from threats, organizations must prioritize patching as a baseline of defense. Research shows that patching regularly can positively affect overall security, because threat actors are actively targeting SAP and creating exploits to take advantage of unpatched systems.

What Are SAP Security Notes?

Definition and purpose

SAP Security Notes are patches or fixes released by SAP to address vulnerabilities and enhance the security of SAP systems.

How SAP categorizes security vulnerabilities

SAP categorizes their SAP Security Notes based on their severity, using the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) v3.0, and assigns priority levels:

  • Hot News: SAP Hot News (also called SAP HotNews Notes) are priority 1 SAP Notes that address critical issues, including documented security vulnerabilities in SAP products.
  • High Priority
  • Medium Priority

Where to find SAP Security Notes

SAP Security Notes can be found on the SAP Support Portal and analysis can be found from vendors like Onapsis. Onapsis Research Labs helps identify SAP application vulnerabilities and assist in developing patching recommendations for the SAP PSIRT.

Understanding SAP Patch Day

  • What SAP Patch Day is and when it occurs: Typically released on the second Tuesday of each month.
  • How SAP releases and communicates security patches: SAP releases their SAP Security Notes on their support portal on the first Tuesday of every month.
  • Role of SAP administrators and security teams: SAP administrators and security teams are expected to review the patches, prioritize and schedule patching efforts based on severity.

Why SAP Security Notes Matter

Risks of Not Applying Patches

Not applying SAP Security Note patches introduces several risks, including:

  • Unpatched systems may contain known vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access, escalate privileges, or compromise sensitive data.
  • These exploits may lead to data breaches, operational disruptions, or even full system takeovers.

Many industries require adherence to strict data protection and cybersecurity regulations. Not addressing vulnerabilities can result in non-compliance, potentially leading to hefty fines or legal consequences.

Exploited vulnerabilities can result in downtime, degraded system performance, or loss of critical functionality, directly impacting business operations and productivity.

Unpatched systems may allow attackers to manipulate, steal, or destroy sensitive business data, compromising its integrity and confidentiality.

Security breaches can damage your organization’s reputation, eroding trust with customers, partners, and stakeholders, which could impact long-term business relationships.

Addressing a security incident post-breach is often significantly more expensive than proactively applying patches. Costs may include incident response, forensic investigations, legal fees, and customer compensation.

Many attackers use automated tools to scan for unpatched vulnerabilities, making systems that miss regular updates easy targets for widespread attacks like ransomware or botnets.

Mitigation Strategy

  • Implement a robust patch management process.
  • Monitor SAP Security Notes regularly and prioritize patches based on the criticality of vulnerabilities.
  • Leverage automated tools to streamline patch application and reduce manual errors.
  • Perform regular security audits and penetration tests to ensure vulnerabilities are adequately addressed.

Keeping systems up-to-date with security patches is essential for safeguarding critical business applications and minimizing cybersecurity risks.

How attackers target unpatched SAP systems

Threat actors exploit unpatched SAP systems using various tactics to gain unauthorized access, compromise data, or disrupt operations. Below are common methods they use to attack these systems:

  • Threat actors monitor SAP Security Notes and other public vulnerability disclosures for details about weaknesses in SAP systems.
  • They use automated tools to scan networks for SAP systems with these unpatched vulnerabilities.
  • Common exploits include privilege escalation, remote code execution (RCE), or bypassing authentication mechanisms.

  • Weak or default credentials in unpatched systems are targeted to gain administrative or privileged access.
  • If the system has a vulnerability that exposes user authentication methods, attackers can amplify the impact by stealing and abusing valid credentials.

Remote Function Call (RFC) is a standard communication protocol in SAP systems. Unpatched vulnerabilities or misconfigurations in RFC services can allow attackers to execute unauthorized transactions or inject malicious code.

  • SAP systems often rely on gateways to facilitate communication between different modules and third-party applications.
  • Threat actors exploit vulnerabilities in these gateways to intercept, manipulate, or redirect communications.

Many SAP systems have web interfaces (e.g., SAP Web Dispatcher, SAP Portal). Vulnerabilities in these components can be used for cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), or SQL injection attacks.

  • Certain unpatched vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the SAP server remotely.
  • RCE can give attackers full control over the affected system, enabling them to steal data, create backdoors, or disrupt operations.

Threat actors often chain multiple vulnerabilities to achieve a more significant impact. For example, they might exploit one vulnerability to gain access and another to escalate privileges or execute malicious code.

Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP) and Java-based components in SAP systems may have vulnerabilities that attackers exploit to manipulate business processes or execute unauthorized functions.

Threat actors might deploy malware, ransomware, or other payloads directly into SAP systems through exploited vulnerabilities, potentially encrypting or exfiltrating sensitive business data.

Insecure configurations, combined with unpatched vulnerabilities, make it easier for attackers to:

  • Escalate privileges.
  • Move laterally within the network.
  • Access sensitive business-critical data.

Attack Scenarios

  • Data Theft: Stealing sensitive business information like financial data, intellectual property, or customer details.
  • Operational Disruption: Using vulnerabilities to bring down mission-critical SAP applications, causing downtime and financial losses.
  • Financial Fraud: Manipulating financial transactions or creating unauthorized payments within SAP systems.
  • Spyware or Surveillance: Monitoring business operations to extract competitive intelligence.

Mitigation Measures

  • Apply Patches Promptly: Regularly update SAP systems with Security Notes.
  • Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Use SAP-specific monitoring tools for anomalous behaviors.
  • Implement Strong Access Controls: Enforce strong password policies and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Regular Vulnerability Assessments: Conduct periodic scans and penetration tests.
  • Network Segmentation: Isolate SAP systems to reduce exposure to threats.

Unpatched SAP systems are lucrative targets for attackers. Maintaining an updated patching process and robust security posture can mitigate these risks effectively.

How to Implement SAP Security Notes Effectively

Best practices for analyzing and prioritizing patches

Each month, SAP releases their Security Notes and your team is responsible for analyzing and prioritizing patches.

Analyzing and prioritizing SAP Security Note patches is critical to ensuring timely remediation of vulnerabilities while minimizing disruption to business operations. Below are best practices for effectively managing this process:

  • Create a formalized procedure for reviewing and applying SAP Security Notes.
  • Assign responsibilities for monitoring, analyzing, and implementing patches.

  • Subscribe to SAP’s Security Notes mailing list or use the SAP EarlyWatch Alert service to stay informed about new vulnerabilities and patches.
  • Use tools like SAP Solution Manager or third-party patch management software to track Security Notes relevant to your landscape.

  • SAP Priority Rating: Pay close attention to the priority level assigned to each Security Note (e.g., Hot News, High, Medium, Low).
  • CVSS Score: Review the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score to gauge the severity and exploitability of the vulnerability.
  • Potential Impact: Assess the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your SAP environment.

  • Confirm whether the Security Note applies to your specific SAP systems, modules, and versions.
  • Use tools like SAP Landscape Management to identify systems affected by the patch.

  • Critical Business Systems: Prioritize patches for systems supporting essential business processes.
  • Exposure to External Threats: Address vulnerabilities in systems exposed to the internet or third-party integrations first.
  • Exploit Availability: Give immediate attention to vulnerabilities with publicly available exploits.
  • Compliance Requirements: Ensure patches are prioritized for systems subject to regulatory requirements.

  • Deploy patches in a sandbox or test environment to assess their impact on system functionality.
  • Conduct regression testing to ensure critical business processes are not adversely affected.

  • Use SAP Solution Manager or other automation tools to streamline patch deployment and minimize human error.
  • Implement automation for vulnerability scanning and system monitoring.

  • Maintain a log of applied patches, including the systems affected, testing results, and timelines for deployment.
  • Use this documentation for compliance reporting and audits.

  • Engage security, IT, and business teams to ensure alignment on patch prioritization and scheduling.
  • Communicate potential downtime or changes to stakeholders to avoid disruptions.

  • Conduct periodic vulnerability assessments and penetration tests to identify any missed patches or new risks.
  • Compare the results with applied patches to verify the effectiveness of your patch management process.

  • Monitor threat intelligence feeds and SAP-specific advisories to understand the evolving threat landscape.
  • Adjust your patch management strategy to address new attack vectors.

  • While patching critical vulnerabilities is a priority, coordinate deployments to minimize disruptions to business operations.
  • Implement risk mitigation controls (e.g., access restrictions, monitoring) if immediate patching is not feasible.

By following these best practices, you can ensure a proactive, efficient, and secure approach to managing SAP Security Note patches, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities while maintaining system stability.

  • Testing and validation before deployment
  • Automating patch management

Challenges in SAP Patch Management

Common Reasons for Delayed Patching

Delays in SAP patching are a common challenge for organizations and can be caused by a variety of technical, operational, and organizational factors. Here are some common reasons for delayed SAP patching:

  • Customization: Many SAP systems are heavily customized, and patches might interfere with bespoke functionalities or integrations.
  • Interdependencies: Dependencies between different SAP modules, third-party tools, and legacy systems can complicate the patching process.

  • Testing Requirements: Patches must be tested extensively in non-production environments to ensure they do not disrupt business processes.
  • Lack of Test Environments: Limited access to sandbox or test systems can delay the verification of patches before deployment.

  • Downtime Concerns: Patching often requires system downtime, which can disrupt critical business operations.
  • Change Management Hesitation: Organizations may delay patches to avoid potential issues arising from system updates.

  • Skill Gaps: A lack of skilled personnel familiar with SAP patch management can slow the process.
  • Workload: IT teams often juggle multiple priorities, making it difficult to dedicate time to patching.

  • No Defined Workflow: Without a structured process, patch identification, testing, and deployment may be inconsistent or delayed.
  • Manual Processes: Relying on manual methods for patching increases the risk of errors and delays.

  • Underestimating Risk: Organizations may fail to prioritize critical patches due to a lack of understanding of the risks involved.
  • Focus on Operational Issues: Immediate operational concerns might take precedence over proactive security updates.

  • Missed Updates: Security Notes may not be monitored regularly, leading to delays in identifying critical patches.
  • Limited Tooling: Without automated tools, identifying and applying relevant patches across complex landscapes is challenging.

  • Cost of Downtime: Organizations may delay patching to avoid financial losses from system unavailability.
  • Tool Investments: Lack of budget for automated patch management solutions can slow the process.

  • Strict Change Controls: Industries with stringent compliance requirements may have time-consuming approval processes for system changes.
  • Audit Preparations: Preparing for audits can divert resources from patching.

  • Siloed Teams: Lack of collaboration between IT, security, and business units can delay patching efforts.
  • Resistance to Change: Cultural resistance to frequent updates may lead to delays in implementing patches.

  • Cumulative Delays: When patching is postponed repeatedly, the backlog grows, making it overwhelming to address all pending updates.
  • Chained Dependencies: Some patches may require prerequisites, delaying implementation until earlier updates are applied.

Temporary Solutions: Relying on mitigations like access restrictions or firewalls can lead to a false sense of security, delaying the actual patching.

Vendor-Specific Guidance: Waiting for official guidance or updates from SAP or third-party vendors can cause delays, especially for highly customized systems.

Mitigation Strategies

  1. Automate Patch Management: Use tools like SAP Solution Manager and Onapsis to streamline patch monitoring and application.
  2. Enhance Testing Capabilities: Invest in test environments and automated regression testing.
  3. Educate Stakeholders: Raise awareness about the risks of delayed patching to ensure buy-in from decision-makers.
  4. Prioritize Critical Patches: Develop a risk-based approach to address high-priority vulnerabilities first.
  5. Strengthen Change Management: Optimize approval processes to balance agility and control.

Addressing these challenges proactively can significantly reduce delays and improve the overall security posture of your SAP systems.

  • Common reasons for delayed patching
  • Visibility and coordination challenges
  • Impact on IT security and business operations

How Onapsis Helps with SAP Security Notes & Patch Management

Onapsis provides comprehensive solutions to streamline SAP Security Notes and patch management processes, ensuring organizations can address vulnerabilities efficiently and maintain robust security. The ultimate goal is helping organizations prioritize and automate patching. Here’s how Onapsis helps:

Onapsis automates the identification of SAP system vulnerabilities by mapping them to the latest SAP Security Notes. This ensures organizations are always aware of the most relevant and critical updates needed for their environment.

The platform evaluates the risk levels of vulnerabilities, prioritizing SAP Security Notes based on potential impact. This helps organizations focus their resources on addressing the most critical threats first.

Onapsis provides actionable insights and clear guidance on applying patches, reducing the complexity and time required for remediation efforts. This accelerates the patching process and minimizes system downtime.

By keeping SAP systems up-to-date with the latest Security Notes, Onapsis ensures organizations remain compliant with industry standards, such as GDPR, SOX, and PCI-DSS, which often require proactive vulnerability management.

The Onapsis platform continuously monitors SAP systems and sends real-time alerts when new SAP Security Notes are released or when vulnerabilities are detected, allowing for immediate action.

Organizations benefit from detailed reports and dashboards that track the status of applied and pending patches. These features support internal and external audits by providing a clear audit trail of patch management activities.

Onapsis integrates seamlessly with existing IT service management and vulnerability management tools, such as ServiceNow and Splunk, ensuring that security updates are incorporated into established operational processes.

By addressing these critical aspects of SAP Security Notes and patch management, Onapsis empowers organizations to mitigate risks, ensure compliance, and maintain the integrity of their SAP environments.

Real-World Impact of Automating SAP Patch Cycles

Overview of Onapsis Solutions

Onapsis provides an end-to-end platform that supports SAP patch management by automatically identifying vulnerable systems, prioritizing SAP Security Notes by business risk, and offering actionable remediation guidance—all while integrating seamlessly into existing IT workflows.

How Onapsis Helps

Through continuous scanning and correlation with SAP Security Notes, Onapsis helps organizations understand which vulnerabilities are exploitable, exposed, or high-risk. By integrating with tools like ServiceNow, customers can automate ticket creation and tracking for remediation tasks, accelerating patching timelines and reducing human error.

Real-World Impact

In a recent engagement, an enterprise with over 100 SAP systems was able to reduce patch validation time by 65% and shrink its patch backlog by 40% in the first quarter of implementation. Prior to Onapsis, patch prioritization was manual and inconsistent, with quarterly vulnerability scans. After onboarding Onapsis Assess, the customer moved to weekly automated scanning, enabling near real-time awareness of newly released SAP Security Notes. Using Onapsis Defend, they also gained continuous monitoring of exploit attempts—flagging unauthorized attempts to interact with unpatched systems within 48 hours of a CVSS 10.0 vulnerability disclosure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where to find the latest SAP Security Notes?

The latest SAP Security Notes can be found on SAP.com and analysis can be found here on the Onapsis blog.

Start with Hot News & High Priority Notes by CVSS score and refer to SAP’s or Onapsis’s guidance on prioritization.

Delaying patches can leave you applications vulnerable to threat actors, which means your business can be vulnerable.

SAP Solution Manager and SAP Cloud ALM offer built-in tools for automating patch identification and deployment. Onapsis adds automation for prioritization, validation, and continuous monitoring, integrating with tools like ServiceNow and Splunk for streamlined workflows.

Staying Updated on SAP Patch Day

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