SAP-Provided Tools

SAP offers several built-in tools to help customers assess and improve the security of their SAP systems. These tools are often included as part of the SAP license and provide valuable insights into potential vulnerabilities.

1. SAP Security Optimization Self-Service (SOS)

Functionality: SAP SOS is a self-service tool that analyzes SAP systems for security vulnerabilities and provides recommendations for remediation. It covers a wide range of security aspects, including:

• Configuration Checks: Identifies misconfigurations in SAP system parameters and settings.
• Authorization Checks: Evaluates user authorizations and roles to detect excessive or inappropriate access.
• Code Vulnerability Checks: Scans custom ABAP code for security flaws such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
• Security Notes Analysis: Checks for missing security patches and notes that address known vulnerabilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive security assessment covering various aspects of SAP security.
• Automated analysis and reporting, reducing manual effort.
• Clear recommendations for remediation, making it easier to address identified vulnerabilities.
• Integrated with SAP Solution Manager for centralized management.

Limitations:

• Requires SAP Solution Manager for full functionality.
• May not cover all possible vulnerabilities, especially those specific to custom code or third-party integrations.
• The effectiveness depends on the accuracy and completeness of the SAP security notes database.

2. SAP Code Vulnerability Analyzer (CVA)

Functionality: SAP CVA is a static code analysis tool specifically designed for identifying security vulnerabilities in ABAP code. It analyzes the code for common security flaws such as:

• SQL injection
• Cross-site scripting (XSS)
• Directory traversal
• Buffer overflows

Benefits:

• Early detection of security SAP vulnerabilities during the development phase.
• Automated code analysis, reducing the need for manual code reviews.
• Detailed reports with specific recommendations for fixing identified vulnerabilities.
• Integration with SAP development tools such as ABAP Development Tools (ADT).

Limitations:

• Primarily focused on ABAP code, may not cover vulnerabilities in other technologies used in the SAP landscape.
• Requires expertise in ABAP development and security to interpret the analysis results and implement the recommended fixes.
• May generate false positives, requiring manual verification of the identified vulnerabilities.

3. SAP EarlyWatch Alert (EWA)

Functionality: SAP EWA is a proactive monitoring and alerting service that provides insights into the health and performance of SAP systems. While not strictly a vulnerability assessment tool, it can help identify potential security risks by monitoring system parameters and configurations.

Benefits:

• Proactive monitoring of system health and performance.
• Early detection of potential security risks based on system configurations and parameters.
• Automated reporting and alerting, reducing the need for manual monitoring.
• Recommendations for improving system performance and security.

Limitations:

• Not specifically designed for SAP vulnerability assessment, may not cover all possible security vulnerabilities.
• The effectiveness depends on the accuracy and completeness of the SAP EWA configuration.
• Requires SAP Solution Manager for full functionality.

4. Security Audit Log

Functionality: The Security Audit Log records security-relevant events in the SAP system, such as user logon attempts, changes to user authorizations, and access to sensitive data. It can be used to detect and investigate security incidents.

Benefits:

• Provides a detailed record of security-relevant events.
• Helps detect and investigate security incidents.
• Supports compliance with security regulations and standards.

Limitations:

• Requires careful configuration to ensure that all relevant events are logged.
• Analyzing the log data can be time-consuming and requires expertise in SAP security.
• Does not proactively identify vulnerabilities, but rather helps detect and respond to security incidents.

Third-Party Tools

In addition to SAP-provided tools, several third-party vendors offer specialized solutions for SAP vulnerability assessment. These tools often provide more advanced features and capabilities than the built-in SAP tools.

1. Onapsis Platform

Functionality: The Onapsis Platform is a comprehensive security solution for SAP and Oracle EBS systems. It provides a wide range of security assessment capabilities, including:

• Vulnerability scanning
• Configuration assessment
• Code analysis
• Penetration testing

Benefits:

• Comprehensive security assessment covering various aspects of SAP security.
• Automated analysis and reporting, reducing manual effort.
• Advanced features such as penetration testing and threat intelligence.
• Integration with other security tools and platforms.

Limitations:

• Can be expensive compared to SAP-provided tools.
• Requires expertise in SAP security to configure and use effectively.

2. Virtual Forge CodeProfiler

Functionality: Virtual Forge CodeProfiler is a static code analysis tool specifically designed for identifying security vulnerabilities in ABAP code. It offers similar functionality to SAP CVA but with additional features and capabilities.

Benefits:

• Advanced static code analysis capabilities.
• Detailed reports with specific recommendations for fixing identified vulnerabilities.
• Integration with SAP development tools.

Limitations:

• Primarily focused on ABAP code.
• Can be expensive compared to SAP-provided tools.

3. SecurityBridge Platform

Functionality: The SecurityBridge Platform offers a range of security solutions for SAP systems, including vulnerability scanning, compliance monitoring, and threat detection.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive security assessment capabilities.
• Real-time threat detection and alerting.
• Compliance monitoring and reporting.

Limitations:

• Can be expensive compared to SAP-provided tools.
• Requires expertise in SAP security to configure and use effectively.

Choosing the Right Tool

The choice of which SAP vulnerability assessment tool to use depends on several factors, including:

• Budget: SAP-provided tools are often included as part of the SAP license, while third-party tools can be more expensive.
• Security Requirements: Organizations with more stringent security requirements may need to invest in third-party tools with advanced features and capabilities.
• Expertise: Some tools require more expertise in SAP security to configure and use effectively.
• Scope: Consider the scope of the assessment. Some tools focus on specific areas, such as ABAP code, while others provide a more comprehensive assessment.

Best Practices

In addition to using the right tools, it is important to follow best practices for SAP vulnerability assessment:

• Regular Assessments: Conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential security risks.
• Prioritize Vulnerabilities: Prioritize vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact.
• Remediate Vulnerabilities: Remediate identified vulnerabilities in a timely manner.
• Monitor Systems: Continuously monitor SAP systems for security incidents.
• Stay Up-to-Date: Stay up-to-date with the latest security patches and notes from SAP.
• Security Awareness Training: Provide security awareness training to SAP users and administrators.

By implementing these best practices and using the right tools, organizations can significantly improve the security of their SAP systems and protect against potential security threats