You are suddenly notified that your SAP system was breached. Malicious actors accessed financial information, stopped important business processes, or released ransomware. Organizations who underestimate SAP security in 2026 will experience this event. SAP systems are now integrated into the enterprise’s primary systems of record and enable all aspects of the enterprise including Finance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Business Intelligence (BI) and Analytics.
Due to the value of using SAP systems within the organization today, they represent an excellent target for sophisticated cybercriminals. In 2022, there was a flood of public disclosures and exploitation of multiple critical SAP product vulnerabilities including multiple ‘Zero-Day’ vulnerabilities that allowed for remote code execution without the need for authentication.
Here is a practical guide, based upon research, to improving SAP Security by 2026.
1. Apply Patches and Security Updates Immediately
SAP regularly releases security updates covering critical vulnerabilities. In April 2025, SAP released emergency patches for 18 new vulnerabilities, many with maximum or near maximum severity scores of 9.8 to 9.9.
In addition, a zero-day flaw in SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer (CVE 2025 31324) was actively exploited by attackers to upload malicious files and execute arbitrary code, forcing out of band patches in mid-2025. In September 2025 SAP patched 21 vulnerabilities, including a flaw rated the highest possible severity of 10.0 for remote code execution.
Action steps:
• Automate patch deployment using configuration tools and change windows that minimize impact.
• Track SAP Security Notes every month and prioritize critical fixes first.
• Align patch cycles with business operations to reduce downtime resistance.
2. Improving Authentication Policies and Eliminating Default Accounts
Most breaches of SAP systems begin due to the failure of the most basic authentication systems, such as default accounts and weak-password policies. For example, in some cases, it is possible to exploit vulnerabilities that provide a means for attackers to escalate privileges from a less-privileged account to complete compromise of the system. This was evident by exploiting ABAP code injection in live instances of SAP S/4HANA.
Action Steps:
Immediately disable all default and unused accounts across the entire environment
Create and enforce strong, unique passwords for all users.
Require MFA when logging in as an administrative or technical account.
3. Enforcing Least Privilege and Segregation of Duties
Insufficiently configured access to SAP remains the largest threat to the security of SAP systems, according to industry reports. Organisations continue to cite failures of segregation of duties (SoD) and governing access as significant obstacles to securing their systems.
Action Steps:
Regularly review access rights to applications.
Implement Role Based Access Controls (RBAC) to ensure that users have the least privileges necessary to perform their job functions; implement RBAC to support SoD.
Use SAP Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) tools to enforce policies for SoD and to capture any violations of policies.
4. Secure All Interfaces, RFCs, APIs, and Integrations
SAP rarely operates in isolation. It integrates with cloud platforms, third party apps, identity systems, and external APIs. These connections expand the attack surface and are often overlooked, leading to hidden risks. In 2025 the industry ranked insecure integrations as one of the top threats to SAP security.
Action steps:
• Scan and map all SAP integrations continuously.
• Apply authentication and encryption on all RFC and API connections.
• Monitor external access points and enforce secure gateways.
5. Audit Custom Code and Secure Development Practices
Customization remains a double-edged sword. Custom ABAP or Java code often delivers business value but can introduce vulnerabilities if not developed securely.
Action steps:
• Integrate security reviews into the development lifecycle.
• Require secure coding practices and automated checks for all custom modules.
• Test custom code changes systematically before deployment.
6. Enable Comprehensive Logging and Real Time Monitoring
Visibility equals control. Without logging and real time threat detection, attackers can operate for weeks or months undetected. Many organizations struggle with low visibility of SAP systems within their broader security operations.
Action steps:
• Enable auditing for all critical actions and configuration changes.
• Integrate SAP event logs with your SIEM or SOC for real time alerting.
• Monitor for suspicious login attempts, privilege changes, and unusual system behavior.
7. Protect Data with Encryption and Backup Security
SAP systems handle highly sensitive business data. Encryption protects data confidentiality while access controls protect integrity.
Action steps:
• Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit.
• Store backups securely with encryption and strict access policies.
• Test recovery processes regularly to verify backup integrity.
8. Establish Unified Security Governance for Hybrid Landscapes
Cloud adoption and hybrid SAP deployments add complexity that traditional security teams may not fully manage. The addition of cloud systems increases the attack surface and requires consistent governance.
Action steps:
• Build unified security policies that apply to both on premise and cloud SAP systems.
• Conduct cross environment reviews to identify gaps in policy or controls.
• Provide ongoing training for security and operations teams on hybrid threat models.
9. Conduct Regular Security Assessments and Penetration Tests
Threat actors adapt rapidly. Continuous assessment allows you to find and fix weaknesses before attackers exploit them. Organizations that struggle with fundamental controls are the most likely to fall victim to breaches.
Action steps:
• Schedule vulnerability scans quarterly or after major changes.
• Run external penetration tests covering SAP interfaces and integrations.
• Remediate findings promptly and track improvements over time.
10. Treat SAP as a High Value Target
SAP systems control mission critical processes and store highly sensitive data. Research shows that 92% of organizations consider their SAP systems to hold mission critical information. Attackers increasingly focus on SAP environments to gain broad enterprise access, exfiltrate data, or deploy ransomware once inside.
Action steps:
• Elevate SAP security in executive risk discussions.
• Reshape security strategy to treat SAP like an external facing service.
• Allocate budget, staff, and tools specifically for SAP security enhancements.
Conclusion
Recent years have shown that even critical vulnerabilities with public exploits can remain unpatched for months, increasing risk and exposure. Active exploitation of SAP vulnerabilities like CVE 2025 31324 and CVE 2025 42957 demonstrates that threat actors target SAP environments now, not just legacy systems.
Strong SAP security requires action in multiple areas at once. By applying patches quickly, enforcing authentication and access control, securing integrations, enabling real time monitoring, and conducting regular assessments, you can significantly reduce your risk. Treat SAP as a core security priority, and your organization will be better placed to maintain data integrity, operational continuity, and trust in 2026 and beyond.