CVE-2017-10126 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: HTML Area). The supported version that is affected is 9.1.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10126 resides within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub component, specifically within the HTML Area subcomponent of PeopleSoft Products version 9.1.0. This represents a critical security weakness that affects organizations utilizing the PeopleSoft platform for enterprise resource planning and business process management. The vulnerability operates within the context of web-based interactions where users engage with the PeopleSoft portal interface through HTTP protocols, making it accessible to malicious actors who can leverage network-based attack vectors without requiring authentication credentials. The security implications extend beyond the immediate component, as successful exploitation can create cascading effects across interconnected systems within the PeopleSoft ecosystem, potentially compromising multiple applications that depend on the interaction hub for data exchange and user interface functionality.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient input validation mechanism within the HTML Area processing functionality, allowing attackers to inject malicious content through HTTP requests that are processed by the PRTL Interaction Hub. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and specifically represents a stored XSS attack vector where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of other users' sessions. The attack requires minimal complexity to execute with a CVSS score of 6.1, indicating a moderate severity level that becomes particularly dangerous when considering the potential for privilege escalation and data manipulation. The vulnerability's design flaw enables unauthorized modification of data through update, insert, and delete operations while simultaneously providing unauthorized read access to sensitive information within the system's accessible data repository. Attackers can leverage this weakness to manipulate user sessions, access confidential business data, and potentially establish persistent access points within the enterprise network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exposure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise data through unauthorized access to the PeopleSoft interaction hub. Organizations using PeopleSoft for critical business functions such as human resources, financial management, and supply chain operations face significant risks when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The human interaction requirement means that successful exploitation typically involves social engineering tactics where unsuspecting users must click on malicious links or visit compromised web pages, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent. The CVSS vector analysis reveals that while network access is required for exploitation, the attack complexity is low, and the scope of impact is considered "changed" indicating that the vulnerability can affect additional products beyond the immediate target. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK framework's concept of privilege escalation and lateral movement, where initial access through a web-based vulnerability can lead to broader system compromise. The potential for unauthorized data modification creates risks for financial integrity, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance, particularly for organizations in heavily regulated industries such as healthcare, financial services, and government sectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10126 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Oracle as the primary defense mechanism, while implementing additional security controls to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should establish network segmentation policies to isolate PeopleSoft components from general network access, implement web application firewalls to filter malicious HTTP requests, and deploy comprehensive input validation mechanisms to prevent HTML injection attacks. Security monitoring should include real-time detection of suspicious user activities and anomalous data access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and role-based access controls can help limit the impact of successful attacks, while regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls. Additionally, user education programs should be established to raise awareness about social engineering tactics that could be used to exploit this vulnerability, particularly focusing on recognizing suspicious links and web content that could lead to malicious code execution within the PeopleSoft environment.