CVE-2017-3579 in Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management component of Oracle Primavera Products Suite (subcomponent: Web Access). Supported versions that are affected are 8.3, 8.4, 15.1, 15.2, 16.1 and 16.2. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management 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 • 12/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3579 resides within Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management, specifically within the Web Access subcomponent of the Primavera Products Suite. This critical security flaw affects multiple versions including 8.3, 8.4, 15.1, 15.2, 16.1, and 16.2, representing a significant attack surface for malicious actors targeting project portfolio management systems. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal technical expertise to leverage this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such systems handle sensitive project data and business-critical information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the web access component, allowing unauthenticated attackers to gain network-level access through HTTP protocols. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface of Primavera P6, which serves as the primary means for users to interact with project portfolio data. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.0 score of 6.1 reflects the balance between confidentiality and integrity impacts, with a medium severity rating that underscores the potential for significant data compromise. The attack vector requires network access and can be executed without prior authentication, making it particularly concerning for organizations with exposed web services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate Primavera P6 system, as successful exploitation can lead to cascading effects across interconnected enterprise applications. Attackers can achieve unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on sensitive project data, potentially altering critical project timelines, resource allocations, or budget forecasts. Additionally, the vulnerability enables unauthorized read access to subsets of project portfolio data, which could include confidential business information, strategic project plans, or proprietary methodologies. The requirement for human interaction from individuals other than the attacker suggests that social engineering or targeted phishing campaigns may be employed to facilitate exploitation, adding another dimension to the threat landscape.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-3579 should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, firewall rule enforcement, and mandatory authentication for all web-accessible components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's credential access and defense evasion tactics. Security teams should prioritize patch management for affected versions, implement robust network monitoring to detect anomalous access patterns, and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their project portfolio management infrastructure. The CVSS vector analysis indicates that while the attack requires human interaction, the potential for unauthorized data modification and access makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations managing sensitive project portfolios and enterprise resources.