CVE-2017-10251 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Test Framework). Supported versions that are affected are 8.54 and 8.55. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools executes to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.7 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2021
The CVE-2017-10251 vulnerability resides within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, specifically in the Test Framework subcomponent affecting versions 8.54 and 8.55. This vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-284, which deals with improper access control mechanisms. The flaw manifests as a privilege escalation issue where an attacker with minimal system access can potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the PeopleSoft environment.
This vulnerability operates at the infrastructure level where PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools executes, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to compromise the entire PeopleTools ecosystem. The CVSS 3.0 score of 4.7 indicates a moderate severity level, but the impact potential is severe with high confidentiality impacts. The attack vector requires local access with existing logon credentials, making it difficult to exploit remotely but still a serious concern for organizations with insufficient network segmentation. The low privilege requirement combined with the potential for complete data access makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to determined attackers.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10251 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to critical business data including financial records, employee information, and other sensitive corporate assets. The vulnerability's design flaw allows attackers to bypass normal access controls within the PeopleTools framework, potentially enabling them to manipulate or extract data without detection. Organizations utilizing PeopleSoft products in enterprise environments face significant risk as this vulnerability can compromise the integrity of their core business applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected PeopleTools versions, implementation of strict access control measures, and enhanced monitoring of system access logs. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces and implement principle of least privilege controls. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, making it essential for security teams to monitor for unusual access patterns and unauthorized data access attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses within the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem and related infrastructure components.