Subject: SAP-ABAP-Crimes | Domain: SAP Security and Compliance
In SAP environments, where sensitive financial, operational, and personal data is processed, the management of user credentials must be treated with utmost caution. Weak or mishandled credentials are often the root cause of SAP-related breaches—sometimes known as SAP-ABAP crimes—ranging from unauthorized access and data manipulation to deliberate fraud by insiders.
This article outlines the principles and best practices for securely managing user credentials in SAP systems, especially in the context of ABAP development, system administration, and security compliance.
SAP credentials control access to everything from sales data to payroll records. Mismanagement can result in:
Such events can trigger compliance violations (e.g., SOX, GDPR), regulatory fines, and legal liabilities.
SAP*, DDIC)These practices are not only insecure—they may constitute violations under internal governance policies or external legal frameworks.
One of the most dangerous and unfortunately common practices is embedding sensitive information directly in ABAP code:
❌ Bad Practice:
CALL FUNCTION 'RFC_FUNCTION'
DESTINATION 'SAP_SYSTEM'
USER 'admin'
PASSWORD 'secret123'.
✅ Better Approach:
Configure secure parameters using transaction RZ10:
login/min_password_length = 10login/password_expiration_time = 30login/fails_to_user_lock = 5login/password_charset = 1These settings protect against brute force and dictionary attacks.
Ensure users only have access to what they need:
SAP_ALL or SAP_NEW profiles unless strictly necessary.Immediately after installation:
SAP*, DDIC, EARLYWATCH.login/no_automatic_user_sapstar = 1 to prevent auto-creation of SAP*.Strengthen authentication for sensitive users (e.g., system admins, developers, auditors):
Use transaction SM20 (Security Audit Log) to:
Always secure login credentials in transit:
If you must store user credentials for interfacing systems:
SNC_ENCRYPT and SNC_DECRYPT.S_TABU_DIS.SY-UNAME in ABAP reports without authorization checks.SAP*.Credential mismanagement in SAP is more than a technical oversight—it’s a potential doorway to fraud, abuse, and data breaches. Securely managing user credentials is a foundational aspect of SAP ABAP crime prevention and compliance assurance.
ABAP developers, system administrators, and security teams must work together to implement robust credential management practices. Only by doing so can organizations protect their SAP systems, ensure data integrity, and meet the demanding standards of modern enterprise security.