Implementing Custom Validation Routines
Subject: SAP-ABAP Security (Crimes Prevention)
In SAP systems, data integrity and security are paramount, especially when dealing with user inputs or interfacing with external systems. One critical way to enforce these aspects is through custom validation routines. These routines ensure that data adheres to business rules, complies with security standards, and prevents potential abuse or attacks such as injection or data manipulation crimes.
This article explores the significance of implementing custom validation routines in ABAP, focusing on security implications and best practices to protect SAP landscapes.
Custom validation routines are developer-defined checks that verify the correctness, completeness, and security of data before it is processed or stored. Unlike standard SAP validations, custom routines allow tailored controls that address specific business or security needs.
Example: Validate a custom customer ID input.
PARAMETERS p_custid TYPE zcust_id.
AT SELECTION-SCREEN ON p_custid.
PERFORM validate_custid USING p_custid.
FORM validate_custid USING iv_custid TYPE zcust_id.
IF iv_custid IS INITIAL OR iv_custid CP '[^A-Z0-9]'.
MESSAGE 'Customer ID must be alphanumeric and not empty' TYPE 'E'.
ENDIF.
ENDFORM.
Implement validations in PBO (Process Before Output) or PAI (Process After Input) modules in module pools.
Enhance standard SAP validations with custom logic using:
FORM validate_input USING iv_input TYPE string.
IF iv_input CP '*'';* OR iv_input CP '*--*' OR iv_input CP '*/*'.
MESSAGE 'Potentially dangerous characters detected' TYPE 'E'.
ENDIF.
ENDFORM.
Better yet, always use parameterized queries to avoid this risk altogether.
Implementing custom validation routines in ABAP is a vital security and quality assurance measure. By tailoring validations to specific business and security needs, organizations can significantly reduce vulnerabilities and data integrity issues in SAP systems. Developers must combine sound validation logic with SAP’s best practices to build resilient and secure applications.