CVE-2017-10304 in PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Security). The supported version that is affected is 9.2. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM, 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 HCM accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.4 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10304 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM component of Oracle PeopleSoft products, specifically within the Security subcomponent. This flaw affects version 9.2 of the software and represents a significant security concern that can be exploited by low-privileged attackers with network access through HTTP protocols. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage relatively simple attack vectors to compromise the system, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where PeopleSoft applications are deployed. The attack requires human interaction from users other than the attacker, suggesting that social engineering or user manipulation may be necessary components of the exploitation process. This characteristic places additional emphasis on user awareness and training as a critical control element.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms within the PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM system. Attackers with low privileges can potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources through HTTP connections, which represents a serious compromise of the system's security posture. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond the immediate PeopleSoft HCM component, as successful exploitation can affect additional products within the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem. This cascading effect demonstrates how vulnerabilities in one component can create ripple effects throughout an organization's integrated software infrastructure. The CVSS 3.0 scoring of 5.4 reflects the moderate severity of the issue, with a base score that considers both confidentiality and integrity impacts, while maintaining a low attack complexity and requiring only local privileges to initiate the attack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as successful attacks can result in unauthorized modification, insertion, or deletion of data within PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM accessible databases. Additionally, attackers can gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data subsets, potentially exposing confidential information about employees, financial records, or other critical business data. The vulnerability's ability to affect data integrity and confidentiality makes it particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive personnel information or financial data within their PeopleSoft implementations. Organizations may experience data corruption, information disclosure, or unauthorized modifications that could disrupt business operations and compromise regulatory compliance. The vulnerability's potential to affect multiple products within the PeopleSoft suite increases the overall risk exposure and requires comprehensive security assessments across the entire software ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10304 should focus on implementing robust access controls and authentication mechanisms within PeopleSoft Enterprise HCM systems. Organizations should ensure that proper patch management procedures are in place to address the vulnerability promptly upon release of Oracle security updates. Network segmentation and monitoring controls can help detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts, while user training programs should emphasize the importance of recognizing and avoiding social engineering attacks that may be required to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and may be related to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses within the broader PeopleSoft implementation and other connected systems. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication, enhanced logging and monitoring, and regular penetration testing to strengthen their overall security posture against similar vulnerabilities.