CVE-2018-2929 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: PIA Core Technology). Supported versions that are affected are 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 as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools 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).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2929 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component, specifically within the PIA Core Technology subcomponent of Oracle PeopleSoft Products. This flaw affects versions 8.55 and 8.56 of the software suite, representing a significant security weakness that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who gain network access through HTTP protocols. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage this weakness without requiring specialized tools or extensive technical knowledge, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where PeopleSoft systems handle sensitive business data. The attack vector requires network connectivity via HTTP, suggesting that systems exposed to external networks without proper security controls are at risk, potentially allowing adversaries to compromise entire PeopleSoft installations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication and authorization controls within the PIA Core Technology framework, which governs the presentation layer of PeopleSoft applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the system's data management capabilities, enabling them to perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on specific data sets within PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools. Additionally, the vulnerability permits unauthorized read access to a subset of accessible data, potentially exposing confidential business information, financial records, or employee data that organizations rely on for operational integrity. The CVSS 3.0 score of 6.1 reflects the moderate severity of this flaw, with confidentiality and integrity impacts rated as low to moderate, while the scope of impact is classified as "changed" indicating that successful exploitation can affect additional products beyond the primary PeopleSoft component. This characteristic suggests that the vulnerability may have cascading effects throughout the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem, potentially compromising interconnected applications and databases.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2929 extends beyond immediate data compromise, as it represents a critical weakness in the enterprise application security posture of organizations relying on PeopleSoft platforms. Successful exploitation can result in data manipulation that affects financial reporting, human resources records, or customer information, potentially leading to regulatory compliance violations and significant business disruption. The requirement for human interaction from individuals other than the attacker indicates that social engineering or targeted phishing campaigns may be necessary to initially compromise systems, though this does not eliminate the fundamental security risk. Organizations may face substantial financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences if this vulnerability leads to unauthorized data access or modification. The vulnerability's impact on multiple products within the PeopleSoft ecosystem suggests that attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to gain access to related systems, increasing the overall attack surface and potential damage scope.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2929 should prioritize immediate implementation of Oracle security patches and updates, as these are specifically designed to address the authentication and authorization flaws within the PIA Core Technology framework. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of PeopleSoft systems to untrusted networks, while implementing robust firewall rules to restrict HTTP access to authorized personnel only. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify all instances of affected PeopleSoft versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent future vulnerabilities. Additional protective measures include implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns, establishing privileged access management controls, and conducting regular security awareness training to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that may exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls beyond simple patching to protect against determined adversaries.