CVE-2017-10158 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Core). Supported versions that are affected are 8.54, 8.55 and 8.56. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, 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 PeopleTools accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools 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 • 01/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10158 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products, specifically affecting the Core subcomponent. This security flaw impacts versions 8.54, 8.55, and 8.56, representing a significant concern for organizations utilizing these enterprise applications. The vulnerability operates through HTTP network access and presents an easily exploitable threat vector that does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is common. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 6.1, indicating a medium severity threat that combines confidentiality and integrity impacts, with a vector of AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. This scoring reflects the vulnerability's ability to allow unauthorized access to sensitive data and operations within the PeopleTools framework.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component. Attackers can exploit this flaw through unauthenticated network connections via HTTP protocols, bypassing normal authentication procedures that would typically protect sensitive data and system functions. The vulnerability requires human interaction from individuals other than the attacker, suggesting that social engineering or user manipulation might be necessary to initiate the attack successfully. However, once initiated, the attack can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of data within the PeopleTools environment, potentially affecting additional products that depend on or interact with this core component. This cross-product impact represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where PeopleSoft systems integrate with various other business applications and databases.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10158 extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as successful exploitation can result in unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against PeopleTools accessible data. This capability allows attackers to modify critical business data, potentially disrupting financial reporting, employee records, or other essential operational information. Additionally, the vulnerability enables unauthorized read access to subsets of PeopleTools accessible data, which could include sensitive business information, personal data, or proprietary corporate intelligence. The combination of these access privileges creates substantial risk for organizations that rely on PeopleSoft for core business processes, particularly in regulated industries where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount. The vulnerability's classification under CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) would likely fall within categories related to insufficient input validation or weak access control mechanisms, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques that involve credential access and privilege escalation through application vulnerabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to PeopleTools components, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic, and implementation of additional authentication controls where possible. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the PeopleSoft ecosystem. Patch management processes must be prioritized to ensure timely application of Oracle security updates and fixes. The vulnerability's medium severity rating does not diminish the importance of prompt remediation, particularly given its potential to affect multiple products within the enterprise environment. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized modifications to PeopleTools data, as these activities could indicate exploitation attempts. The combination of network-level controls, application-level security measures, and continuous monitoring provides the most effective defense against exploitation of this particular vulnerability.