CVE-2018-2838 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: EPPCM_HIER_TOP). The supported version that is affected is 9.1. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub, 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 PRTL Interaction Hub accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub 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).
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2838 resides within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub component, specifically within the EPPCM_HIER_TOP subcomponent of PeopleSoft Products version 9.1. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes organizations to significant operational risks through unauthorized data access and manipulation. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage it without requiring specialized skills or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PeopleSoft systems handle sensitive business data. The affected system operates under the PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub framework, which serves as a critical integration point for various enterprise processes and data management functions.
The technical flaw manifests as a security weakness that permits unauthenticated network access via HTTP protocols to compromise the targeted PeopleSoft component. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited by attackers who have network connectivity to the affected system. The attack vector requires network access from external sources, making it accessible to threat actors who can probe and exploit the system from remote locations. The vulnerability's design flaw allows for unauthorized modification of data through update, insert, or delete operations, while simultaneously enabling read access to sensitive information. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 6.1, reflecting moderate severity but significant impact across confidentiality and integrity domains. The vector notation AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N indicates network accessibility with low attack complexity, no privilege requirements, user interaction needed, and cascading impact across affected systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate PeopleSoft Enterprise PRTL Interaction Hub component to potentially affect additional products within the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem. This cascading effect demonstrates how a single vulnerability can compromise interconnected systems and processes, amplifying the potential damage to organizational operations. Successful exploitation enables attackers to perform unauthorized data modifications, which can lead to data corruption, information tampering, and operational disruptions. The vulnerability's ability to provide unauthorized read access to subset of accessible data creates risks for information disclosure, potentially exposing sensitive business information, financial data, or proprietary corporate details. Organizations utilizing PeopleSoft systems may experience significant business disruption and regulatory compliance issues if this vulnerability is exploited effectively. The human interaction requirement suggests that while the technical attack surface is relatively narrow, social engineering or targeted user engagement may be necessary to complete the exploitation process.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2838 should prioritize immediate patch application from Oracle, as this represents the most effective defense against the identified vulnerability. Organizations must implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of PeopleSoft components to unauthorized network access. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized data modification activities within PeopleSoft systems. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the broader enterprise infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-311 (Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data) categories, reflecting poor access control mechanisms and insufficient data protection measures. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) techniques, indicating exploitation through public-facing applications and potentially leveraging application layer protocols for attack delivery. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls, disabling unnecessary services, and establishing robust incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.