CVE-2017-3502 in PeopleSoft Enterprise FIN Receivables
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise FIN Receivables component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Receivables). The supported version that is affected is 9.2. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise FIN Receivables. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of PeopleSoft Enterprise FIN Receivables accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3502 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise FIN Receivables component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products, specifically affecting version 9.2. This security flaw represents a critical integrity risk that stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the web-based interface of the financial receivables module. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and manifests through the HTTP protocol, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the affected system. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 5.3, indicating a moderate severity level that primarily impacts data integrity rather than confidentiality or availability. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable means that minimal technical expertise or resources are required to leverage this weakness, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential impact.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the lack of proper authentication checks within the Receivables subcomponent's web services or application interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted HTTP requests directly to the vulnerable PeopleSoft application without requiring any valid credentials or authentication tokens. This unauthenticated access capability enables malicious actors to perform unauthorized operations including updating, inserting, or deleting data within the receivables database. The vulnerability specifically targets the integrity aspect of the CIA triad, allowing attackers to modify financial records, customer data, or transactional information that flows through the receivables module. The attack vector requires only network access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from remote locations without physical presence or legitimate user credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3502 extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially compromise the entire financial integrity of organizations using the affected PeopleSoft version. Successful exploitation could result in fraudulent financial entries, unauthorized modifications to customer receivables records, or systematic data corruption that would require extensive manual verification and correction processes. Organizations relying on accurate receivables data for financial reporting, credit management, and cash flow forecasting face significant operational disruption from such attacks. The vulnerability's ability to affect data integrity without requiring authentication creates a persistent risk that could go undetected for extended periods, potentially leading to substantial financial losses and regulatory compliance issues. Furthermore, the compromised data could impact downstream systems that depend on accurate receivables information, creating cascading effects throughout the organization's financial ecosystem.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. Network-level protections such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access control lists should be configured to restrict access to the affected PeopleSoft application ports and services. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be implemented to detect anomalous access patterns or unauthorized data modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application-level authentication controls, web application firewalls, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in their PeopleSoft environments. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability is fully addressed without introducing regressions in application functionality.