CVE-2013-5779 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 authenticated users to affect confidentiality via vectors related to PIA Core Technology.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5779 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft products, specifically affecting versions 8.51, 8.52, and 8.53. This represents a significant security weakness that operates within the PeopleTools framework, which serves as the foundational technology for PeopleSoft applications. The affected PIA Core Technology component forms part of the PeopleSoft Internet Architecture and handles core web application functionalities. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though it clearly impacts the confidentiality of data within the system. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote authenticated attackers to exploit the system without requiring local access or privileged credentials beyond initial authentication.
The technical flaw manifests through vectors related to PIA Core Technology, which suggests that the vulnerability exists within the web application server components that handle user requests and process business logic. This architecture typically processes user inputs through web forms and generates dynamic content for display. The authentication requirement implies that attackers must first establish valid credentials within the system, which could come from compromised accounts, insider threats, or credential theft through phishing attacks. The vulnerability's remote nature indicates that exploitation can occur from external network locations without requiring physical access to the corporate network. The confidentiality impact means that unauthorized parties could potentially access sensitive information such as employee data, financial records, or proprietary business information that should remain protected within the PeopleSoft environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it undermines the fundamental security posture of organizations relying on PeopleSoft for critical business operations. Companies utilizing these PeopleTools versions face potential data breaches that could compromise personal identifiable information, financial data, and strategic business information. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers could potentially target these systems from anywhere on the internet, making the attack surface significantly larger than if the vulnerability were local or required physical access. Organizations may experience regulatory compliance violations, legal consequences, and reputational damage if sensitive data is compromised. The vulnerability affects the core infrastructure of PeopleSoft applications, potentially impacting multiple business processes that depend on the integrity and confidentiality of the underlying data. This could result in operational disruptions, financial losses, and increased costs for incident response and remediation activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5779 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as Oracle would have released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to PeopleSoft applications and enforce strict access controls for authentication mechanisms. Monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities related to PeopleSoft PIA components can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of PeopleSoft environments should include vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses. The implementation of multi-factor authentication for PeopleSoft access can reduce the risk of credential compromise. Additionally, organizations should maintain updated inventory records of all PeopleSoft versions in use to ensure comprehensive patch management across their enterprise applications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and may map to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor PeopleSoft application traffic. Regular security training for administrators and users can help prevent social engineering attacks that might lead to credential compromise. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to avoid operational disruptions.