Subject: SAP-ABAP Security – Combating Crimes in SAP Systems
SQL Injection is one of the most common and dangerous security vulnerabilities that threaten SAP systems, especially in ABAP custom developments. Attackers exploit poorly coded database queries to execute malicious SQL commands, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data corruption, or full system compromise.
This article discusses the nature of SQL Injection attacks in the SAP ABAP context and presents effective methods to prevent them.
SQL Injection occurs when untrusted user input is directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper validation or sanitization. Attackers manipulate inputs to inject arbitrary SQL commands, tricking the database into executing unauthorized queries.
Example of vulnerable code in ABAP:
DATA lv_sql TYPE string.
lv_sql = 'SELECT * FROM ekko WHERE ebeln = ''' && p_ebeln && ''''.
EXEC SQL.
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE :lv_sql
ENDEXEC.
If p_ebeln contains malicious input like '' OR '1'='1, it could return all purchase orders, bypassing intended filters.
Prefer static Open SQL statements with proper parameters:
SELECT * FROM ekko INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_ekko) WHERE ebeln = @p_ebeln.
The @ syntax binds variables safely, preventing injection.
Always bind variables instead of concatenating strings in dynamic SQL or native SQL.
Example:
EXEC SQL.
SELECT * FROM ekko WHERE ebeln = :p_ebeln
ENDEXEC.
Standard SAP interfaces are designed securely; avoid direct table manipulation.
Native SQL should be carefully reviewed and avoided if possible.
Utilize tools like SAP Code Vulnerability Analyzer to detect unsafe code patterns.
Vulnerable code:
DATA lv_sql TYPE string.
lv_sql = 'SELECT * FROM ekko WHERE ebeln = ''' && p_ebeln && ''''.
EXEC SQL.
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE :lv_sql
ENDEXEC.
Secure alternative:
SELECT * FROM ekko INTO TABLE @DATA(lt_ekko) WHERE ebeln = @p_ebeln.
Preventing SQL Injection in SAP ABAP development is crucial for protecting sensitive business data and ensuring system integrity. By adopting secure coding practices, leveraging SAP’s parameterized SQL features, and validating user inputs, developers can effectively mitigate SQL Injection risks and safeguard SAP landscapes from potential security crimes.