CVE-2016-3478 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component in Oracle PeopleSoft Products 8.53, 8.54, and 8.55 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality and integrity via vectors related to File Processing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3478 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft products, affecting versions 8.53, 8.54, and 8.55. This unspecified weakness falls under the broader category of file processing flaws that can be exploited remotely by attackers without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability specifically impacts the confidentiality and integrity of data within the affected systems, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on PeopleSoft applications for their business operations. The PeopleTools component serves as a foundational framework for PeopleSoft applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially affect numerous downstream applications and processes that depend on this core infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves file processing mechanisms that allow remote attackers to manipulate or access sensitive data through unspecified vectors related to file handling operations. This type of vulnerability typically stems from inadequate input validation, improper file access controls, or flawed file processing routines that fail to properly sanitize or validate file operations. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to read confidential information from files, modify file contents, or even execute unauthorized file operations that compromise the integrity of the system. The unspecified nature of the vectors suggests that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple attack paths related to file processing, potentially including improper file upload handling, insecure file download operations, or inadequate file access permission checks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations using affected PeopleSoft versions as it enables remote attackers to compromise both the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive business data. The potential consequences include unauthorized access to financial records, employee information, customer data, or other proprietary information stored within PeopleSoft applications. Additionally, the integrity compromise could allow attackers to modify critical business processes, alter financial transactions, or corrupt system data, leading to operational disruptions and potential financial losses. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues and legal consequences if sensitive data is compromised through this vulnerability, particularly in industries subject to strict data protection regulations.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle security patches released for this vulnerability, as well as implementing network segmentation to limit access to PeopleSoft applications. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected PeopleSoft versions and ensure proper access controls are in place for file processing operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which covers Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, and may also relate to CWE-73, which addresses External Control of File Name or Path, both of which are commonly exploited in file processing attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged for initial access through remote exploitation, followed by privilege escalation or data manipulation techniques, potentially mapping to tactics such as T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1486 for Data Encrypted for Ransom. Organizations should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions and regular security audits to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting these file processing vulnerabilities.