CVE-2018-3016 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 low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools. 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 5.4 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3016 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component, specifically within the Integration Broker subcomponent of Oracle PeopleSoft Products. This flaw affects versions 8.55 and 8.56, representing a significant security weakness that exploits the underlying architecture of the PeopleSoft platform. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and operates under the ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation technique through network-based attack vectors. The affected system components include the integration broker functionality that facilitates communication between different PeopleSoft modules and external systems, making it a critical point of potential compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication and authorization controls within the Integration Broker service. An attacker with low privileges and network access via HTTP can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data processing capabilities. The flaw allows for manipulation of data through update, insert, and delete operations against specific PeopleSoft data sets, while simultaneously enabling read access to confidential information. This dual impact on both confidentiality and integrity aligns with the CVSS 3.0 scoring system, where the base score of 5.4 reflects the moderate severity of the vulnerability. The attack vector requires network access with low privileges, indicating that the vulnerability does not require elevated system access but can be exploited through standard web-based protocols.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3016 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates opportunities for data manipulation that can compromise the integrity of PeopleSoft applications. Organizations utilizing affected versions may experience unauthorized changes to critical business data, potentially affecting financial records, employee information, or other sensitive operational data. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable means that attackers with minimal technical expertise can leverage this weakness, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with insufficient network monitoring or access controls. The affected data scope includes accessible PeopleSoft data sets that are processed through the Integration Broker, which may contain personal information, financial data, or business-critical records depending on the organization's implementation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to PeopleSoft components, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP traffic, and enforcement of principle of least privilege access controls. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics that align with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for malicious file execution, suggesting that additional defensive measures should include monitoring for unusual access patterns and implementing robust authentication controls. Patch management should be prioritized to upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability, while security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N indicates that this vulnerability requires network access, low complexity, low privilege requirements, and does not require user interaction, making it particularly concerning for organizations with exposed web services. Organizations should also consider implementing data loss prevention measures and regular security audits to detect potential exploitation attempts.