CVE-2017-3508 in Primavera Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Primavera Gateway component of Oracle Primavera Products Suite (subcomponent: Primavera Desktop Integration). Supported versions that are affected are 1.0, 1.1, 14.2, 15.1, 15.2, 16.1 and 16.2. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Primavera Gateway. While the vulnerability is in Primavera Gateway, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Primavera Gateway. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 9.1 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3508 resides within the Primavera Gateway component of Oracle Primavera Products Suite, specifically affecting the Primavera Desktop Integration subcomponent. This security flaw manifests in versions 1.0, 1.1, 14.2, 15.1, 15.2, 16.1, and 16.2 of the Primavera suite, representing a critical concern for organizations utilizing these project management platforms. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage relatively straightforward techniques to compromise the affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where project data integrity and availability are paramount.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the Primavera Gateway component, which processes HTTP requests from external sources. Attackers with high privilege levels and network access can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized control over the gateway system, potentially enabling them to manipulate project data, disrupt operations, or exfiltrate sensitive information. The CVSS 3.0 score of 9.1 reflects the severity of impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H indicating network-based exploitation requiring only low complexity but high privileges, with potentially catastrophic consequences across the entire system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3508 extends beyond the immediate Primavera Gateway component, as successful exploitation can lead to cascading effects throughout the broader Primavera ecosystem and potentially affect interconnected systems. Organizations relying on Primavera for critical project management functions face significant risks including project timeline disruptions, data corruption, unauthorized access to sensitive project information, and potential compliance violations. The vulnerability's ability to result in complete takeover of the Primavera Gateway system means that attackers could establish persistent access points within the organization's project management infrastructure, creating long-term security implications that extend far beyond the initial compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass immediate patch deployment from Oracle, which addresses the underlying authentication and input validation flaws. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the Primavera Gateway to unauthorized network access, while enhanced monitoring and logging capabilities should be deployed to detect suspicious activities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) and may be categorized under ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture strengthening.