CVE-2002-1252 in Peopletools
Summary
by MITRE
The Application Messaging Gateway for PeopleTools 8.1x before 8.19, as used in various PeopleSoft products, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via certain XML External Entities (XXE) fields in an HTTP POST request that is processed by the SimpleFileHandler handler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1252 represents a critical security flaw in the Application Messaging Gateway component of PeopleTools 8.1x versions prior to 8.19. This vulnerability specifically affects various PeopleSoft products that utilize the messaging gateway functionality for processing HTTP POST requests containing XML data. The flaw manifests in the SimpleFileHandler component which processes incoming XML requests without proper validation of external entity references, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's file reading capabilities.
This vulnerability constitutes a classic XML External Entity attack vector where remote attackers can manipulate the XML processing behavior by injecting malicious external entity declarations within the HTTP POST requests. The SimpleFileHandler handler fails to properly sanitize or restrict the processing of external entity references, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary file paths that the system will attempt to read and return in the response. This creates a significant information disclosure risk where attackers can access sensitive files that should remain protected within the application's file system, potentially including configuration files, database credentials, or other confidential data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable further attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this XXE vulnerability can gain access to system files that may contain sensitive information such as database connection strings, application configuration details, or other proprietary data that could be used for additional attacks. The vulnerability affects the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem and demonstrates how legacy application messaging components can contain fundamental security flaws that persist across multiple versions and products. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, and represents a common attack pattern catalogued in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of Information Gathering and Credential Access.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to PeopleTools 8.19 or later versions where the XXE vulnerability has been addressed through proper XML parsing controls. Additional protective measures include implementing strict XML parsing configurations that disable external entity processing, deploying web application firewalls with XXE detection capabilities, and conducting thorough security assessments of all XML processing components within the application stack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and the need for security controls that prevent the processing of untrusted external entity references, particularly in enterprise application messaging systems where file system access capabilities are exposed through HTTP interfaces.