CVE-2018-2785 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Stylesheet). 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 PeopleTools. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.7 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-2785 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component, specifically within the Stylesheet subcomponent of Oracle PeopleSoft Products. This weakness affects versions 8.54, 8.55, and 8.56, representing a significant security exposure for organizations utilizing these software versions. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage network-based HTTP access to compromise the system without requiring authentication credentials. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 4.7 reflects the integrity impact severity, suggesting that successful exploitation could enable unauthorized modification of data within the PeopleSoft environment. The vulnerability's vector analysis reveals that network access is required (AV:N), the attack complexity is low (AC:L), no privileges are needed (PR:N), and human interaction is required from someone other than the attacker (UI:R), indicating that social engineering or user interaction may be necessary for successful exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests in the stylesheet processing functionality of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, where improper input validation or sanitization allows attackers to manipulate the system's behavior through crafted HTTP requests. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the stylesheet rendering mechanisms that PeopleSoft uses to generate user interfaces and manage presentation logic. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can achieve unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on sensitive data within the PeopleSoft system. The impact extends beyond the immediate PeopleTools component, as the attack may significantly affect additional products within the Oracle PeopleSoft ecosystem, demonstrating the interconnected nature of enterprise applications and their shared security concerns. The CVSS vector indicates that while the attack requires human interaction, the potential for data integrity compromise is substantial, particularly given that the vulnerability affects core enterprise tools used for business-critical processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2785 represents a significant threat to enterprise data integrity and business continuity. Organizations running affected PeopleSoft versions face the risk of unauthorized data modification that could compromise sensitive business information, financial records, or operational data. The requirement for human interaction suggests that attackers might employ social engineering tactics or phishing campaigns to trigger the vulnerability through user actions, making this attack vector particularly challenging to defend against. The vulnerability's potential to affect additional products within the PeopleSoft ecosystem amplifies the risk, as a single exploitation could potentially compromise multiple interconnected applications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how stylesheet processing can become a security attack surface when inadequate validation is implemented. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1211 category, which involves manipulating systems through web-based interfaces and user interaction.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2785 should focus on immediate patching of affected PeopleSoft versions to the latest supported releases from Oracle. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to PeopleSoft applications and enforce strict access controls for HTTP endpoints. Web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and filter requests targeting stylesheet processing components. Additionally, security awareness training for end users can help prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit the human interaction requirement. The implementation of proper input validation and sanitization measures within the PeopleSoft environment should be prioritized, along with regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions specifically designed to detect anomalous activity in PeopleSoft applications, particularly around data modification operations. Regular updates to the PeopleSoft platform and associated security patches should be maintained as part of a comprehensive security program, with vulnerability scanning integrated into the software development lifecycle to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.