CVE-2011-2283 in PeopleSoft Enterprise FMS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise FMS component in Oracle PeopleSoft Products 9.0 Bundle #36 and 9.1 Bundle #13 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors related to Payables.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2283 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise FMS component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products, specifically affecting versions 9.0 Bundle #36 and 9.1 Bundle #13. This unspecified weakness represents a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to compromise both the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data within the Payables module. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though its impact on financial data processing systems is severe enough to warrant immediate attention. The affected Payables component handles crucial financial transactions and data management functions, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to manipulate financial records or extract confidential information. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages authentication mechanisms to gain access to restricted functionality, demonstrating a significant gap in the security architecture of the PeopleSoft platform. The confidentiality aspect suggests that attackers could potentially access sensitive financial data, while the integrity component indicates the possibility of data modification or corruption within the Payables system. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which encompasses security weaknesses related to inadequate access control mechanisms, and may also relate to CWE-778, addressing insufficient logging or monitoring of security-relevant events. From an operational perspective, the impact extends beyond simple data compromise as the Payables module typically contains critical financial information including vendor payments, invoice processing, and accounting records that directly affect organizational financial integrity and compliance requirements.
The operational implications of CVE-2011-2283 are particularly severe given that it affects a core financial component within enterprise resource planning systems. Organizations utilizing PeopleSoft Enterprise FMS may experience unauthorized modifications to payment records, fraudulent transaction processing, or complete data exposure within their Payables workflows. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system, reducing the barrier to exploitation while potentially increasing the scope of potential damage. Authentication requirements, while providing some protection, indicate that the vulnerability exists within the authorization and access control mechanisms rather than at the authentication level itself. Attackers could potentially manipulate vendor payment information, alter invoice amounts, or create fraudulent entries that could lead to significant financial losses. The integrity compromise aspect particularly threatens the audit trail and financial reporting capabilities of affected organizations, as modifications to Payables data could go undetected for extended periods. This vulnerability may also impact regulatory compliance frameworks such as SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act) and other financial reporting standards that require robust data integrity controls. The lack of specific details about the vulnerability's exact mechanism makes it challenging for security teams to implement targeted defensive measures, though the general nature of the issue suggests potential weaknesses in input validation, session management, or access control implementation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2283 should encompass multiple layers of security controls to address both the immediate threat and prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging. Organizations must prioritize applying the vendor-provided patches and updates as soon as they become available, as these typically contain the necessary fixes for the identified security weakness. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the scope of potential exploitation, particularly restricting direct network access to PeopleSoft components from untrusted networks. Enhanced monitoring and logging of Payables transactions should be deployed to detect anomalous activities that might indicate exploitation attempts or successful attacks. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses within the PeopleSoft environment and related systems. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls is essential, ensuring that users have only the minimum permissions required to perform their specific Payables functions. Additionally, organizations should establish robust incident response procedures specifically tailored to address financial data compromise scenarios, including forensic capabilities to investigate potential exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability may map to techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts usage and T1566 for social engineering, as attackers might exploit legitimate user credentials to access the vulnerable Payables functionality. Regular security awareness training for financial personnel can help prevent credential compromise, while database activity monitoring solutions can provide visibility into unauthorized data access or modifications within the Payables module. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive application security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar weaknesses from being introduced in future versions.