CVE-2018-2695 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Query). Supported versions that are affected are 8.54, 8.55 and 8.56. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP 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 6.5 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2021
The CVE-2018-2695 vulnerability resides within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component, specifically in the Query subcomponent affecting versions 8.54, 8.55, and 8.56. This represents a significant security flaw that demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in enterprise applications. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of web application security and database access control, where the query functionality fails to adequately validate user inputs, creating an avenue for unauthorized data access. This issue particularly affects organizations utilizing PeopleSoft's enterprise resource planning systems, which are widely deployed across financial services, healthcare, and government sectors where data confidentiality is paramount.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient input validation mechanism within the query processing subsystem that allows malicious actors to manipulate query parameters through HTTP requests. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-20, representing "Improper Input Validation," and specifically relates to CWE-770, "Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling," which can lead to information disclosure and unauthorized access. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and can be executed over a network connection using HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers with limited access credentials. The vulnerability's classification under CVSS 3.0 scoring system with a base score of 6.5 indicates a moderate to high severity threat level, with the confidentiality impact rated as high due to the potential for accessing critical business data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, encompassing potential business disruption and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations utilizing affected PeopleSoft versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive financial data, employee records, customer information, and proprietary business intelligence. The vulnerability's ability to provide complete access to all accessible data within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools environment means that attackers can potentially extract comprehensive datasets without detection. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad, specifically compromising confidentiality and potentially integrity, as unauthorized access can lead to data manipulation or deletion. The attack scenario typically involves an authenticated user with low privileges who can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their access level and extract information that should remain protected within the enterprise's information architecture.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's security patches and updates released specifically for this vulnerability, along with implementing network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 for application layer protocols and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a key target for both defensive and offensive security operations. Additional protective measures should include monitoring for unusual query activity, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of PeopleSoft environments. Organizations must also consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their compliance frameworks, particularly regarding data protection regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, and soc 2 requirements. The vulnerability underscores the necessity for comprehensive application security testing, including dynamic application security testing and secure code reviews, to identify similar input validation flaws that could compromise enterprise data integrity and confidentiality.