CVE-2013-1528 in E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Oracle HRMS component in Oracle E-Business Suite 11.5.10.2, 12.0.6, 12.1.1, 12.1.2, and 12.1.3 allows remote attackers to affect integrity via unknown vectors related to Payroll.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1528 resides within Oracle E-Business Suite's Human Resources Management System component, specifically affecting multiple version releases including 11.5.10.2, 12.0.6, 12.1.1, 12.1.2, and 12.1.3. This weakness represents a critical integrity concern within Oracle's enterprise resource planning suite that impacts payroll processing functionality. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though the classification indicates a significant security flaw that could potentially allow unauthorized modification of payroll data. The vulnerability's presence in the HRMS component of Oracle E-Business Suite creates a substantial risk for organizations relying on these systems for critical financial operations.
The technical flaw manifests as an integrity-related weakness that enables remote attackers to compromise payroll data without direct physical access to the system. This vulnerability operates within Oracle's HRMS framework where payroll processing occurs, suggesting that malicious actors could potentially manipulate salary calculations, employee compensation records, or other financial data elements. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or system, which significantly increases the attack surface and potential impact. The vulnerability's classification under the Oracle E-Business Suite framework indicates it likely involves database access controls, authentication mechanisms, or data validation processes that govern payroll transactions. The unspecified vectors suggest this could involve various attack paths including but not limited to SQL injection, privilege escalation, or data manipulation techniques that affect the integrity of payroll records.
Organizations utilizing affected Oracle E-Business Suite versions face substantial operational risks from this vulnerability, particularly in financial and human resources departments where payroll accuracy is paramount. The integrity compromise could lead to unauthorized salary adjustments, fraudulent payment processing, or systematic data corruption that might go unnoticed for extended periods. This vulnerability directly impacts the reliability and trustworthiness of payroll systems, potentially causing financial losses, regulatory compliance issues, and operational disruptions. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers could target these systems from anywhere on the internet, making traditional network perimeter security measures insufficient for protection. Organizations may experience cascading effects including audit complications, legal ramifications, and potential criminal liability if payroll data integrity is compromised, as payroll records often contain sensitive personal and financial information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1528 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Oracle as the primary remediation approach, given the critical nature of the integrity vulnerability. Organizations must implement network segmentation to isolate HRMS components from general network access, reducing the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous payroll processing activities or unauthorized data modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. Access controls must be strictly enforced through role-based permissions and least privilege principles to minimize potential impact if exploitation occurs. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional weaknesses in the E-Business Suite environment. The implementation of database activity monitoring and audit trails can provide early detection capabilities for integrity violations. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as intrusion detection systems, network firewalls, and application-level security measures. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability likely relates to CWE-284 for improper access control or CWE-250 for execution of unintended code, while ATT&CK framework would classify this under privilege escalation and data manipulation techniques. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure system stability and avoid operational disruptions.