CVE-2026-0503 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) affecting SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) and SAP S/4HANA, specifically the SAP Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Management module. The root cause is a missing authorization check that allows an attacker with some level of privileges (PR:L) to manipulate user parameters to bypass password authentication. This manipulation enables extraction of hardcoded clear-text credentials embedded within the application. Exploiting this flaw, an attacker can access, modify, or delete change pointer information related to EHS objects. Change pointers are used to track changes in data and synchronize with other systems, so tampering with them could propagate incorrect or malicious data downstream, potentially affecting business processes relying on EHS data integrity. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of SAP_APPL (618, 605, 606, 617) and S4CORE (102 through 109). The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.4, indicating a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality and integrity with no availability impact. No public exploits are known at this time, but the presence of hardcoded credentials and bypass of authentication pose a significant risk if exploited. The vulnerability was published on January 13, 2026, and remains unpatched as no patch links are provided.

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 inaccurate environmental, health, and safety reporting, regulatory non-compliance, and flawed operational decisions. Since EHS data often supports compliance with strict EU regulations (e.g., REACH, CLP), tampering could result in legal penalties and reputational damage. The lack of availability impact means system uptime is not directly threatened, but data integrity issues could disrupt business processes relying on accurate EHS information. Organizations with integrated SAP landscapes may face cascading effects as corrupted change pointers propagate to connected systems. Attackers with some privileges could leverage this vulnerability to escalate access or conduct further attacks. Given SAP's widespread use in European industries such as manufacturing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and utilities, the impact could be significant if exploited.

European organizations should immediately review and restrict user privileges related to SAP EHS Management modules to the minimum necessary, ensuring that only trusted administrators have access to sensitive functions. Implement strict monitoring and logging of changes to user parameters and change pointer data to detect suspicious activities early. Since no official patches are currently available, consider applying SAP-recommended workarounds or configuration changes that enforce authorization checks where possible. Conduct thorough audits of hardcoded credentials within SAP systems and replace or remove them if feasible. Employ network segmentation to limit access to SAP systems and use multi-factor authentication for privileged accounts to reduce the risk of credential misuse. Regularly update SAP systems to the latest supported versions and stay alert for SAP security advisories providing patches or mitigations for this vulnerability. Engage with SAP support for guidance and monitor threat intelligence feeds for emerging exploit information.