ERP Security Risks
Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) systems like SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics are
high-value targets because they house your "crown jewels"—financials,
HR records, and supply chain data. In 2025–2026, the shift to cloud ERPs has
expanded the attack surface.
1.
Identity and Access Vulnerabilities
- Excessive Permissions: Over-provisioning access
(giving users more rights than needed) leads to internal fraud or
"privilege escalation" if an account is hijacked.
- Poor Password Hygiene: Lack of Multi-Factor
Authentication (MFA) on ERP portals remains a top entry point for
credential stuffing attacks.
- Inactive Accounts: "Ghost" accounts
from former employees or contractors are often exploited because they
aren't monitored.
2.
Technical & Integration Risks
- Unpatched Legacy Systems: Many organizations delay ERP
updates due to fear of breaking custom code, leaving known vulnerabilities
(CVEs) exposed for years.
- Insecure API Integrations: ERPs connect to CRM, HRIS, and
banking tools. Weak security in these API connections can
allow attackers to bypass the ERP's core defenses.
- Custom Code Flaws: Customizations built on top of
the ERP often lack the rigorous security testing of the base software,
introducing "backdoors" like SQL injection.
3. Data
& Compliance Risks
- Data Leakage (Shadow IT): Employees exporting sensitive
ERP data into unsecured Excel sheets or personal cloud storage to
"work faster."
- Insecure Backups: If your ERP backups aren't
encrypted or stored in an "immutable" (unchangeable) format, a
ransomware attack can permanently wipe out your business history.
- Regulatory Non-Compliance: Failure to track who accessed
PII (Personally Identifiable Information) can lead to massive fines
under GDPR or CCPA.
4.
Emerging Threats (2025–2026)
- AI-Enhanced Social Engineering: Attackers use deepfake
audio/video to impersonate executives and trick ERP admins into changing
bank details or authorizing fraudulent payments.
- Supply Chain Attacks: Compromising a third-party
vendor that has "trusted access" to your ERP environment.