CVE-2018-2793 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: PsAdmin). Supported versions that are affected are 8.54, 8.55 and 8.56. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with logon to the infrastructure where PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools executes to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.2 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2793 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools component, specifically within the PsAdmin subcomponent of Oracle PeopleSoft products. This flaw affects versions 8.54, 8.55, and 8.56, representing a significant security weakness that undermines the integrity of enterprise financial and human resources management systems. The vulnerability operates at the infrastructure level where PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools executes, creating a pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical business data. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 6.2, indicating a medium severity threat that primarily impacts confidentiality aspects of the system. The attack vector is classified as local access with low attack complexity and no privilege requirements, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers who already have access to the underlying infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the PsAdmin functionality, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to compromise the PeopleTools environment. This weakness creates a critical exposure point where attackers can potentially access all data accessible through PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools without proper authorization. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the authentication process that permits unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise resources. The attack scenario involves an attacker who has already gained access to the system infrastructure, which aligns with the CVSS vector showing AV:L (Adjacent Network) and PR:N (No privileges required) characteristics. This means that once an attacker can establish a presence on the network where PeopleSoft operates, they can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete access to all accessible data within the PeopleTools environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2793 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools system. Organizations running affected versions face potential exposure of sensitive financial data, employee records, and other critical business information that resides within these platforms. The confidentiality impact rating of high severity indicates that attackers can access data that should remain protected, potentially leading to financial losses, regulatory violations, and reputational damage. The vulnerability's ability to provide unauthorized access to all PeopleSoft Enterprise PT PeopleTools accessible data creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on these systems for core business operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects multiple versions of the software, requiring widespread patching efforts across enterprise environments. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) as attackers can leverage compromised infrastructure access to move laterally and gain deeper system access, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official Oracle patches released for this vulnerability, which address the authentication flaws in the PsAdmin component. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit infrastructure access to authorized personnel only, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Regular security audits and monitoring of PeopleSoft environments should be conducted to detect unauthorized access attempts and ensure that proper authentication mechanisms remain intact. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable means that organizations should not delay remediation efforts, as the window for exploitation remains open until patches are applied. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring solutions specifically designed to detect anomalous access patterns within PeopleSoft environments, as this vulnerability can be leveraged for extended periods without detection. The mitigation strategy should also include regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar authentication weaknesses in other enterprise applications and systems, as the underlying issue of improper authentication represents a broader security concern that affects numerous enterprise platforms.