CVE-2026-0503 is a vulnerability identified in SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) and SAP S/4HANA specifically within the SAP Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Management module. The root cause is a missing authorization check (CWE-862) that allows an attacker with some level of privileges to bypass password authentication by manipulating user parameters. This flaw also enables extraction of hardcoded clear-text credentials embedded in the application, which can be leveraged to escalate access. Upon successful exploitation, the attacker can access, modify, or delete change pointer information related to EHS objects. Change pointers are used to track changes for integration with other systems, so tampering with this data can affect downstream processes and data integrity. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of SAP_APPL (618, 605, 606, 617) and S4CORE (102 through 109). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4, indicating medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and a scope change. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are low, and availability is unaffected. No public exploits are known at this time. The vulnerability was published on January 13, 2026, and no official patches are linked yet, suggesting organizations should monitor SAP advisories closely. Given SAP's critical role in enterprise resource planning and EHS management, exploitation could disrupt compliance and operational workflows.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive EHS data managed within SAP systems. Unauthorized modification or deletion of change pointer information could lead to incorrect or missing data synchronization with downstream systems, potentially causing compliance violations, reporting errors, or operational disruptions in safety and environmental management processes. While availability is not impacted, the integrity compromise could affect decision-making and regulatory adherence, which are critical in sectors like manufacturing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Organizations relying heavily on SAP ECC and S/4HANA for EHS management must consider the risk of insider threats or attackers who have gained limited privileges exploiting this flaw to escalate access or manipulate data. The presence of hardcoded clear-text credentials further exacerbates the risk by facilitating unauthorized access. The medium severity score reflects that exploitation requires some privileges, limiting exposure to external attackers but increasing risk from compromised internal accounts or lateral movement within networks.

1. Apply SAP security patches promptly once released for the affected SAP_APPL and S4CORE versions to address the missing authorization checks. 2. Conduct a thorough review and tightening of user privileges, ensuring the principle of least privilege is enforced, especially for users with access to EHS Management modules. 3. Audit and monitor access to EHS objects and change pointer data for unusual modifications or deletions, using SAP audit logs and SIEM integration. 4. Investigate and eliminate any hardcoded credentials within SAP custom code or configurations; replace them with secure credential management solutions. 5. Implement network segmentation and strong access controls around SAP systems to limit exposure to attackers with limited privileges. 6. Educate SAP administrators and security teams about this vulnerability and encourage vigilance for suspicious activities related to EHS data. 7. Regularly review SAP security notes and advisories for updates and additional mitigation guidance. 8. Consider deploying SAP Enterprise Threat Detection tools to identify exploitation attempts in real time. 9. Validate and test backup and recovery procedures for EHS data to ensure rapid restoration in case of data tampering.