Subject Area: SAP-ABAP (Security & Compliance)
In SAP ABAP development, runtime errors—unexpected issues occurring during program execution—are inevitable. However, how these errors are handled can significantly impact system security. Poor handling of runtime errors can expose sensitive information, cause data corruption, or allow attackers to exploit system weaknesses, leading to what we can term SAP-ABAP crimes related to security breaches and compliance violations.
This article discusses best practices for handling runtime errors securely in ABAP to safeguard data integrity, user trust, and system robustness.
Runtime errors, also known as exceptions, occur due to various reasons:
Without proper handling, these errors can trigger SAP dumps (short dumps in ST22), revealing internal system details to users and potential attackers.
TRY...CATCH)Modern ABAP supports structured exception handling to catch and handle errors gracefully.
TRY.
" Code that may cause runtime errors
CATCH cx_sy_zero_divide INTO DATA(lx_zero).
" Handle division by zero error securely
MESSAGE 'Operation failed due to invalid input.' TYPE 'E'.
CATCH cx_sy_no_authority INTO DATA(lx_auth).
" Handle authorization error securely
MESSAGE 'You do not have permission to perform this action.' TYPE 'E'.
CATCH cx_root INTO DATA(lx_other).
" Handle unexpected errors generically
MESSAGE 'An unexpected error occurred. Please contact support.' TYPE 'E'.
ENDTRY.
Display only generic, user-friendly messages. Log detailed error information in secured logs accessible only to administrators.
Implement logging mechanisms that capture error details (exception type, stack trace, user context) in secure audit logs for troubleshooting and compliance.
CALL FUNCTION 'Z_LOG_RUNTIME_ERROR'
EXPORTING
iv_error_message = lx_other->get_text( )
iv_user = sy-uname
iv_program = sy-repid.
Prevent runtime errors caused by invalid inputs through rigorous validation before processing.
Ensure database transactions are rolled back and resources are released to maintain system stability.
Define and use custom exception classes for domain-specific errors, making error handling clearer and more maintainable.
CLASS zcx_invalid_data DEFINITION INHERITING FROM cx_static_check.
ENDCLASS.
CLASS zcx_invalid_data IMPLEMENTATION.
ENDCLASS.
REPORT zsecure_runtime.
DATA lv_dividend TYPE i VALUE 10.
DATA lv_divisor TYPE i VALUE 0.
DATA lv_result TYPE i.
TRY.
IF lv_divisor = 0.
RAISE EXCEPTION TYPE zcx_invalid_data
EXPORTING textid = zcx_invalid_data=>invalid_input.
ENDIF.
lv_result = lv_dividend / lv_divisor.
WRITE: / 'Result:', lv_result.
CATCH zcx_invalid_data INTO DATA(lx_invalid).
MESSAGE 'Invalid input provided. Please check your data.' TYPE 'E'.
CATCH cx_root INTO DATA(lx_other).
" Log detailed info internally
CALL FUNCTION 'Z_LOG_RUNTIME_ERROR'
EXPORTING
iv_error_message = lx_other->get_text( ).
MESSAGE 'An unexpected error occurred. Please contact support.' TYPE 'E'.
ENDTRY.
Handling runtime errors securely is a cornerstone of robust and secure SAP ABAP programming. It protects your system from inadvertent information leaks, maintains data integrity, and ensures a smooth user experience even when unexpected issues occur.
By adopting structured exception handling, providing generic user messages, logging errors securely, and validating inputs rigorously, ABAP developers can mitigate risks associated with runtime errors — effectively preventing SAP-ABAP “crimes” related to security breaches.