CVE-2013-3835 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component in Oracle PeopleSoft Products 8.51, 8.52, and 8.53 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality via unknown vectors related to Integration Broker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3835 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft products, specifically affecting versions 8.51, 8.52, and 8.53. This unspecified weakness manifests within the Integration Broker functionality, which serves as a critical communication layer for enterprise application integration. The affected system operates under the assumption that the Integration Broker component maintains secure data transmission and processing capabilities while handling various enterprise integration scenarios. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism enabling the confidentiality compromise remains undisclosed in the initial CVE description, though the impact is clearly defined as affecting data confidentiality through unknown vectors. The Integration Broker component in PeopleSoft serves as a middleware solution that facilitates communication between different enterprise applications, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to access sensitive business data.
The technical flaw within the Integration Broker component represents a security weakness that enables remote attackers to compromise the confidentiality of data processed through the PeopleSoft platform. This vulnerability operates at the application layer, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise information without requiring physical access or local system privileges. The unspecified nature of the vector suggests that the attack could occur through various methods including but not limited to malformed messages, improper input validation, or insecure communication protocols. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions indicates a fundamental design or implementation flaw that has persisted across the product line, suggesting that the underlying security controls within the Integration Broker component are insufficient to prevent unauthorized data access. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad, potentially exposing sensitive business data, financial records, employee information, or other proprietary data processed through the PeopleSoft platform.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3835 extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially affecting business continuity, regulatory compliance, and enterprise security posture. Organizations utilizing PeopleSoft versions 8.51 through 8.53 face significant risk of data breaches that could compromise customer information, financial data, or strategic business intelligence. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the network, eliminating the need for physical presence or local network access. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on PeopleSoft for core business operations, as the Integration Broker serves as a critical communication pathway for enterprise applications. The potential for widespread data compromise exists since the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software, meaning that organizations across various deployment scenarios could be impacted. The confidentiality breach could lead to regulatory violations under standards such as gdpr, hipaa, or other data protection legislation, resulting in significant financial penalties and reputational damage.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches and updates, conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of their PeopleSoft environments, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected components. The remediation process should involve comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied patches do not disrupt existing business processes or application functionality. Security teams should also enhance monitoring of the Integration Broker component for suspicious activities and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include restricting remote access to the affected systems, implementing strong authentication controls, and conducting regular security audits of the PeopleSoft environment. Organizations should also consider implementing data loss prevention solutions to monitor and control the flow of sensitive information through the Integration Broker. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tactics and techniques framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and data exfiltration. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability directly impacts organizations' ability to maintain data confidentiality as required by various industry standards and regulatory frameworks, making immediate remediation essential for maintaining security posture and regulatory compliance.