Appsecure logo

CVE-2021-40498: Medium Vulnerability in SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application

A medium-severity vulnerability in SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application for Android could lead to denial of service. Organizations should prioritize patching to prevent access disruptions.

MEDIUMCVSS 5.5 · Published October 12, 2021

Not a customer? See how AppSecure simulates real world attacks to protect your infrastructure.

Speak to Experts

A vulnerability has been identified in SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application for Android, affecting versions older than 2108. This vulnerability allows an attacker to prevent legitimate users from accessing a service, either by crashing or flooding the service, which can lead to denial of service. The vulnerability is related to Android implementation methods widely used across Android mobile applications, and such methods are embedded into the SAP SuccessFactors mobile application.

These Android methods begin executing once the user accesses their profile on the mobile application. While executing, it can also pick up activities from other Android applications running in the background that use the same types of methods. This vulnerability can also lead to phishing attacks that can be used for staging other types of attacks.

The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.5, categorizing it as medium severity. The attack vector is local, with low complexity and requiring low privileges. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.

The vulnerability's impact on availability is high, meaning that an attacker could significantly disrupt service availability for users of the application. Organizations should ensure that their versions of SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application are updated to at least version 2108 to avoid potential exploitation.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability allows an attacker to cause denial of service by exploiting the Android methods within the SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application. The vulnerability was published on October 12, 2021, and has been modified since its initial disclosure.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of commonly used Android methods within the mobile application. The attack vector is classified as local, indicating that an attacker must have physical access to the device or be on the same local network.

The complexity of the attack is low, requiring only low privileges and no user interaction. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are rated as none, while the availability impact is rated high, indicating that the service could be rendered inoperable.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Risk to organizations includes significant disruptions to service availability for users, which can affect business operations and user satisfaction. The potential for phishing attacks further amplifies the risk, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to stage additional attacks.

Organizations should assess the blast radius of this vulnerability, particularly if they are using older versions of the SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application. With a CVSS score of 5.5, this vulnerability should be addressed in the priority patch cycle.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

All versions prior to vendor patch (version 2108) are affected. Organizations should ensure that they have updated to the latest version of the SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application.

Mitigation & Remediation

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should update to the latest version of the SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application. For those unable to perform immediate updates, consider implementing network controls to limit exposure and monitoring for unusual activity related to the mobile application.

For further guidance on security practices, organizations may engage in penetration testing to identify potential weaknesses.

Detection Guidance

Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unusual activity related to the SAP SuccessFactors Mobile Application. Behavioral anomalies that deviate from normal usage patterns should be investigated promptly.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

This vulnerability represents a significant risk in the context of mobile application security, particularly for organizations relying on SAP SuccessFactors. The potential for denial of service and phishing attacks highlights the need for continuous security assessments.

Organizations should consider implementing a comprehensive vulnerability management program to proactively address similar vulnerabilities.

In addition, regular penetration testing can help surface similar weaknesses in the future.

Finally, staying informed about the latest security trends and vulnerabilities through resources like the AppSecure blog can enhance an organization’s resilience against threats.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

Latest CVEs. Recently published vulnerabilities from the NVD database.

View all vulnerabilities
CVE IDSeverity
CVE-2025-65418HIGH
CVE-2025-65417MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65416MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65415MEDIUM
CVE-2025-61314HIGH

Protect Your Business with Hacker-Focused Approach.