SAP ADS – Overwrite arbitrary file by PDF leading to RCE
Impact on Business
An authenticated attacker with high privileges can exploit this vulnerability to overwrite arbitrary files on the host operating system. This can ultimately lead to remote command execution, allowing the attacker to fully compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system and its underlying business applications.
Vulnerability Details
A SOAP web service within SAP Adobe Document Services (ADS) allows an authenticated attacker to manipulate parameters during a document generation request. By modifying specific configuration parameters, an attacker can force the application to write the generated output to an arbitrary location on the server’s file system, overwriting existing files.
If critical system files or executable scripts are overwritten with maliciously crafted content, this behavior can be leveraged to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) on the host operating system with the privileges of the application user.
Solution
SAP has released SAP Note 3536965 which provides patched versions of the affected components.
The patches can be downloaded from https://me.sap.com/notes/3536965.
Onapsis strongly recommends SAP customers to download the related security fixes and apply them to the affected components in order to reduce business risks.
Report Timeline
- 05/07/2024: Onapsis reports vulnerability to SAP
- 12/10/2024: SAP issues the patch
References
Advisory Information
- Public Release Date: 09/17/2026
- Security Advisory ID: ONAPSIS-2026-0046
- Researcher(s): Fabian Hagg, Yvan Genuer
Vulnerability Information
- Vendor: SAP
- Affected Components: SAP NetWeaver JAVA, SAP Adobe Document Services (ADS) (Check SAP Note 3536965 for detailed information on affected releases)
- Vulnerability Class: CWE-22: Directory Traversal / CWE-400: Unrestricted File Upload
- CVSS v3 score: 9.1 (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H)
- Risk Level: Critical
- Assigned CVE: CVE-2024-47578
- Vendor patch Information: SAP Security NOTE 3536965
Affected Components Description
- SAP NetWeaver JAVA 7.50
- SAP Adobe Document Service 7.50
About our Research Labs
Onapsis Research Labs provides the industry analysis of key security issues that impact mission-critical systems and applications. Delivering frequent and timely security and compliance advisories with associated risk levels, Onapsis Research Labs combine in-depth knowledge and experience to deliver technical and business-context with sound security judgment to the broader information security community.
Find all reported vulnerabilities at: https://github.com/Onapsis/vulnerability_advisories
This advisory is licensed under a Creative Commons 4.0 BY-ND International License