SAP’s January 2026 Security Patch Day: Addressing Critical Vulnerabilities in Enterprise Systems
On January 13, 2026, SAP released 17 new security notes as part of its monthly Security Patch Day, targeting critical vulnerabilities across its product suite. This update is crucial for organizations relying on SAP solutions, as it addresses severe issues that could lead to full system compromise if left unpatched.
Critical Vulnerabilities Overview
Among the 17 security notes, four are classified as HotNews-level vulnerabilities, each with a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score of 9.1 or higher, indicating their critical nature.
1. SQL Injection in SAP S/4HANA Financials – General Ledger (CVE-2026-0501): This vulnerability allows authenticated users with low privileges to inject arbitrary SQL queries, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of financial data.
2. Remote Code Execution in SAP Wily Introscope Enterprise Manager Workstation (CVE-2026-0500): An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this flaw, with user interaction, to execute arbitrary code, leading to full system control.
3. Code Injection in SAP S/4HANA (CVE-2026-0498): High-privilege users can inject and execute malicious code remotely, posing a significant risk to system integrity.
4. Code Injection in SAP Landscape Transformation (CVE-2026-0491): Similar to the previous vulnerability, this flaw allows high-privilege users to perform remote code injection, affecting data transformation processes.
High and Medium Severity Vulnerabilities
In addition to the critical issues, SAP addressed several high and medium severity vulnerabilities:
– Privilege Escalation in SAP HANA (CVE-2026-0492): Low-privilege users can escalate their privileges, gaining full control over the database.
– OS Command Injection in ABAP Servers (CVE-2026-0507): This flaw allows attackers to execute operating system commands, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data manipulation.
– Missing Authorization Checks in NetWeaver ABAP (CVE-2026-0506) and Fiori Apps (CVE-2026-0511): These vulnerabilities could result in data integrity issues and unauthorized data exposure.
– Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in NetWeaver Portal (CVE-2026-0499) and Business Connector (CVE-2026-0514): Exploitation could lead to unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users.
Recommendations for Administrators
Given the severity of these vulnerabilities, SAP strongly recommends that administrators:
– Prioritize Patching: Apply patches for critical vulnerabilities immediately, especially those related to SQL injection and remote code execution, to prevent potential breaches.
– Test in Staging Environments: Before deploying patches to production systems, test them in staging environments to ensure compatibility and stability.
– Review Security Notes: Regularly consult SAP’s Support Portal for detailed information on each vulnerability and follow the prescribed mitigation steps.
– Implement Layered Defenses: In addition to patching, employ network segmentation and other security measures to protect systems until updates are fully applied.
Conclusion
SAP’s January 2026 Security Patch Day underscores the importance of proactive vulnerability management in enterprise environments. Organizations must act swiftly to apply these patches, safeguarding their systems against potential exploits that could lead to significant operational disruptions and data breaches.
