CVE-2018-2977 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Integration Broker). 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. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.5 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2977 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component, specifically within the Integration Broker subcomponent of Oracle PeopleSoft Products. This security flaw affects versions 8.55 and 8.56, representing a significant risk to organizations utilizing these enterprise applications. The vulnerability operates at the network level, requiring only HTTP access for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote attackers without prior authentication credentials. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 6.5, indicating a medium to high severity threat that primarily impacts confidentiality aspects of the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves an authentication bypass mechanism that allows unauthenticated attackers to gain access to critical data within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools environment. The attack requires human interaction from users other than the attacker, suggesting that the exploitation may involve social engineering elements or targeted user engagement to successfully compromise the system. This characteristic places additional emphasis on the need for comprehensive user awareness training alongside technical security measures. The vulnerability's design allows for unauthorized access to all PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools accessible data, potentially exposing sensitive organizational information including financial records, employee data, and other confidential business information. The attack vector is classified as network-based with low attack complexity and no required privileges, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit enterprise applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete access to all accessible data within the PeopleTools environment. This comprehensive access capability means that attackers could potentially modify or corrupt data, disrupt business processes, or extract sensitive information that could be used for further attacks or financial gain. The vulnerability affects the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem, potentially compromising the integrity of business processes and data consistency across integrated systems. Organizations utilizing these specific versions face significant risk of data breaches and potential regulatory compliance violations, particularly in industries subject to strict data protection requirements. The human interaction requirement suggests that social engineering tactics might be employed to facilitate exploitation, making user education and awareness programs critical components of overall security strategy.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2977 should include immediate application of Oracle's security patches and updates for PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools versions 8.55 and 8.56. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the Integration Broker functionality to only necessary systems and users. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP activity related to the Integration Broker component can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify additional vulnerabilities that may exist within the PeopleSoft environment. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to provide defense-in-depth against similar exploitation attempts.