CVE-2018-3153 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, 8.56 and 8.57. 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 • 05/29/2023
The CVE-2018-3153 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, specifically affecting the PIA Core Technology subcomponent. This vulnerability manifests in versions 8.55, 8.56, and 8.57, making it a widespread concern across multiple releases of the PeopleSoft platform. The flaw operates at the application layer and is classified as an easily exploitable vulnerability that requires minimal technical sophistication from threat actors. The vulnerability's accessibility through standard HTTP network protocols means that attackers can potentially compromise affected systems without requiring prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where PeopleSoft applications are exposed to external networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the PeopleTools framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by leveraging HTTP requests to perform unauthorized operations against the affected PeopleSoft applications. The vulnerability's classification as requiring human interaction indicates that while the initial exploitation may be automated, some form of user involvement or system interaction is necessary to complete the attack vector. This characteristic suggests that the vulnerability might be triggered through social engineering techniques or by exploiting user trust in legitimate application interactions. The underlying flaw allows for unauthorized modification of data through update, insert, and delete operations, while simultaneously enabling read access to sensitive information within the PeopleSoft environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3153 extends beyond the immediate PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component, potentially affecting related products and systems within the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem. This cascading effect aligns with the CVSS 3.0 base score of 6.1, which reflects the moderate severity of the vulnerability's potential damage. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are particularly concerning as attackers can gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and modify critical business information. The vulnerability's potential to cause unauthorized updates, inserts, and deletes directly threatens data integrity, while read access capabilities compromise confidentiality. Organizations running affected PeopleSoft versions face significant risks including data manipulation, unauthorized information disclosure, and potential business disruption. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates that network-based attacks are possible with low complexity, no prior privileges required, and human interaction needed, while the scope of impact can be constrained but still affects additional products.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Oracle's official security patches and updates to address the vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of PeopleSoft applications to untrusted networks. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) classifications, indicating that the root cause involves inadequate authorization mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and data manipulation, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within affected environments. Regular security assessments and monitoring of PeopleSoft applications should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while access logging should be enhanced to track unauthorized activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust application security controls in enterprise environments.