CVE-2015-4738 in PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM Candidate Gateway component in Oracle PeopleSoft Products 9.1 and 9.2 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality via unknown vectors related to Security.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4738 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM Candidate Gateway component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products version 9.1 and 9.2. This represents a security weakness that affects the confidentiality aspect of the system's information security posture. The vulnerability is classified as unspecified, indicating that the exact technical details of the flaw were not fully disclosed in the initial vulnerability report, though it is confirmed to be related to security mechanisms within the candidate gateway functionality. The affected component specifically handles candidate management processes within the Human Capital Management suite, making it a critical area for organizations managing recruitment and personnel data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in its ability to allow remote authenticated users to compromise confidentiality, which aligns with CWE-284, Access Control issues, and potentially CWE-312, Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information. The fact that it operates through authenticated access suggests that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, but once authenticated, they can exploit this weakness to access sensitive data that should otherwise be protected. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within a component that handles candidate information, which typically includes personal identification details, employment history, and other sensitive personnel data that organizations must protect according to data protection regulations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to access confidential candidate information, potentially leading to identity theft, employment fraud, or competitive intelligence gathering. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not need physical access to the system, making the attack surface much larger than if it were restricted to local access only. Organizations using PeopleSoft HCM Candidate Gateway may face regulatory compliance issues if candidate data is compromised, particularly under standards such as GDPR or HIPAA, depending on the jurisdiction and type of data involved. The vulnerability could also impact business continuity if sensitive recruitment data becomes accessible to unauthorized parties, potentially affecting hiring decisions and organizational security.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4738 should include applying the relevant Oracle security patches and updates as released through Oracle Critical Patch Updates. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the PeopleSoft environment, enforce strong authentication controls, and monitor access logs for suspicious activities. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the PeopleSoft environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1078 Valid Accounts as it requires authenticated access, and potentially T1566 Phishing as attackers might need to obtain valid credentials through social engineering. Organizations should also consider implementing data loss prevention measures and ensuring that access controls are properly configured to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure configuration practices for enterprise applications that handle sensitive personnel data.