SAP PENETRATION TEST

OVERVIEW & PROCEDURE – SAP VAPT (GREY-BOX-APPROACH)

For our SAP Penetration Test, we generally choose a grey-box-approach, also known as SAP VAPT – Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing, unless the customer expressly requests a black box penetration test.

SAP VAPT combines both automated vulnerability assessments and manual penetration tests into an extensive security analysis:

• SAP Vulnerability Assessment
  We utilize the smarterSec Security Platform to perform a full scan of your SAP system configuration, interfaces, patches, authorizations and custom ABAP code, identifying known weaknesses and misconfigurations based on best-practices and industry guidelines.
  
• SAP Penetration Testing
  After the vulnerability assessment, our SAP penetration testers exploit selected vulnerabilities in a controlled environment to validate their impact, demonstrate real‑world attack paths and assess the effectiveness of existing defenses inside the organization.

The integrated SAP VAPT approach has been proofed as most effective and most time-saving, providing:

• Complete transparency on the security posture of your SAP systems from “low‑hanging fruits” to complex, logic‑based vulnerabilites
• Evidence‑based risk validation of the identified vulnerabilities through practical exploit execution

By embedding a SAP VAPT approach into our SAP Penetration Test, smarterSec ensures not just the detection of vulnerabilities, but proof of exploitability and clear guidance on how to remediate and harden your SAP system.

GENERAL PROCEDURE OF THE SAP (VAPT) PENETRATION TEST

Our SAP penetration test offers you a quick and easy way to extensively analyze and evaluate the current risk situation of your SAP system. We are following a general standard procedure:

Preliminary meeting on the initial scope & selection of the SAP system

• Presentation of the SAP system landscape by the customer
• Outline of the network architecture and segmentation
• Documentation of the results of the preliminary meeting
  
  

Execution of the SAP VAPT – Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing

• Part 1: Vulnerability Assessment – Whitebox analysis
• Initial and automated white box analysis of the SAP system configuration, authorizations, interfaces, patch-management, change-management and custom ABAP source code with the smarterSec Security Platform.

• Part 2: Penetration Testing – Selection of exploits
• Based on the results of the white box analyses, various exploits are selected and discussed with the customer, usually focusing on individual critical vulnerabilities.

• Part 3: Penetration Testing – Execution of exploits
• The selected exploits are specifically executed in the SAP system in order to test security vulnerabilities in a practical manner. The aim is to realistically evaluate potential vulnerabilities and to check the effectiveness of existing security measures.

• Part 4: Documentation
• Once an SAP penetration test has been completed, a comprehensive final report and accompanying presentation documents are prepared for the final presentation.

• Part 5: Final meeting and presentation
• In a final meeting, the results and specific recommendations for action are discussed. In this meeting, we present the key findings from the penetration test, including identified vulnerabilities, potential risks and their impact on your company. We also explain the proposed measures to mitigate the vulnerabilities and strengthen your SAP system landscape.
  
  

BENEFITS AT A GLANCE

• Comprehensive analysis of the implemented security and compliance mechanisms of your SAP system
• Detailed audit report with all the results of the SAP vulnerability assessment and penetration testing and a management summary with the most important risks
• Important recommendations for action to mitigate vulnerabilities and optimize your SAP system
• Explanation of the results in a final presentation including real customer examples of how attackers can exploit the vulnerabilities found in the SAP systems

Why regular SAP penetration tests are essential for your IT security strategy?

Regular SAP penetration tests are crucial to ensure that your system is always protected against the latest threats and attack methods. Cybercriminals are constantly developing new methods to exploit vulnerabilities in SAP systems and gain access to confidential data. A regular penetration test will help you identify and eliminate these threats before they can be exploited by attackers.

Furthermore, a successful attack on your SAP system can have serious consequences, such as the loss of confidential data, the disruption of critical business processes, or even the loss of customer data. A SAP penetration test helps you minimize these risks and ensure the security of your system and data.

Another important factor is compliance and data protection regulations. Many industries and countries have specific regulations that require companies to protect their IT systems and data against attacks. SAP penetration tests will help you ensure that your company is compliant with the applicable regulations and has implemented all the necessary security measures.

In summary, performing SAP penetration tests regularly must be an indispensable part of your IT security strategy. It helps you to enhance the security of your SAP system against new threats, meet compliance requirements, and increase the confidence of your customers and partners in the security of your data.

Related topics: smarterSec Security Platform // Forensic analysis for SAP