CVE-2016-3457 in PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM ePerformance
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM ePerformance component in Oracle PeopleSoft Products 9.2 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality and integrity via vectors related to Security.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3457 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM ePerformance component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products version 9.2, representing a security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to compromise both confidentiality and integrity of affected systems. This unspecified vulnerability manifests through security-related vectors that exploit weaknesses in the component's authentication and authorization mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers who have already gained legitimate access to escalate their privileges or manipulate sensitive data. The affected component is part of Oracle's Human Capital Management suite, which handles performance management processes including employee evaluations, goal setting, and performance reviews, making it a critical business application that stores confidential personnel information and evaluation data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability suggests weaknesses in the security controls implemented within the ePerformance module, likely involving insufficient input validation, improper access controls, or flawed session management mechanisms that could be leveraged by authenticated users to access unauthorized resources or modify data without proper authorization. Such vulnerabilities typically align with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) or CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) classifications, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions even for users who have legitimate credentials. The fact that this is a remote vulnerability indicates that attackers do not require physical access to the system and can exploit the flaw through network connections, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where the application is accessible over networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can potentially lead to manipulation of critical performance evaluation data, alteration of employee records, or unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information that could be used for fraudulent purposes. Organizations relying on PeopleSoft HCM ePerformance for managing employee performance reviews and related data face significant risks including potential compliance violations under data protection regulations, damage to employee trust, and operational disruptions if performance data becomes compromised or manipulated. The vulnerability's classification as affecting both confidentiality and integrity means that attackers could simultaneously read sensitive information and modify it, creating a dual threat that complicates both detection and remediation efforts. This type of vulnerability often maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) in threat actor methodologies where initial access may be gained through legitimate credentials and then used to exploit such security flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3457 should include immediate application of Oracle's security patches and updates released for this vulnerability, along with comprehensive security assessments of the PeopleSoft environment to identify potential exploitation vectors. Organizations should implement additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual activities within the ePerformance component, particularly around data modification and access patterns. Network segmentation and privileged access management controls can help limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar flaws are not present in other components of the PeopleSoft suite. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures and proper access controls in enterprise applications handling sensitive personnel data, as even authenticated users with legitimate access can pose significant risks when security controls are inadequate.