CVE-2018-2774 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: SQR). Supported versions that are affected are 8.54, 8.55 and 8.56. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2774 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools component, specifically within the SQR subcomponent of Oracle PeopleSoft products. This security flaw affects versions 8.54, 8.55, and 8.56, representing a significant risk to organizations utilizing these software versions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and manifests through HTTP network access, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no authentication for exploitation. The CVSS score of 7.3 indicates a high severity level with impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, reflecting the comprehensive nature of potential damage. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable means that malicious actors with basic network access can leverage this flaw without requiring specialized tools or extensive technical knowledge.
The technical flaw in CVE-2018-2774 stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the SQR functionality of PeopleTools. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate HTTP requests in ways that bypass normal authentication and authorization checks. The vulnerability specifically enables unauthorized modification of data through update, insert, and delete operations against certain accessible data within the PeopleTools environment. Additionally, attackers can gain unauthorized read access to a subset of data that should normally be restricted. The partial denial of service component of this vulnerability means that attackers can disrupt system operations and potentially impact business continuity. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) categories, demonstrating how inadequate access controls can lead to multiple attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2774 extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass potential business disruption and financial loss. Organizations running affected PeopleTools versions face the risk of unauthorized data modification which could corrupt financial records, employee information, or other critical business data. The read access capability allows attackers to extract sensitive information that could be used for further attacks or sold on the black market. The partial denial of service aspect threatens system availability, potentially disrupting business processes that depend on PeopleSoft applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers leverage HTTP protocols to exploit the vulnerable component. The lack of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous in environments where PeopleSoft applications are exposed to untrusted networks or the internet.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2774 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Oracle's official security updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to PeopleTools components and ensure that only authorized systems can reach the vulnerable HTTP endpoints. Additional security measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP requests, enforcing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, and conducting regular security assessments of PeopleSoft environments. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 security controls. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify exploitation attempts targeting PeopleSoft applications. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications within the PeopleSoft ecosystem, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar threats.