CVE-2018-3165 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: SQR). Supported versions that are affected are 8.55 and 8.56. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.2 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3165 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component, specifically affecting the SQR subcomponent of Oracle PeopleSoft Products. This security flaw impacts versions 8.55 and 8.56, representing a significant concern for organizations utilizing these enterprise applications. The vulnerability operates within the broader context of enterprise resource planning systems where PeopleTools serves as a foundational framework for various business processes and data management functions. The affected SQR component specifically handles report generation and processing capabilities, making it a critical element within the PeopleSoft ecosystem that requires robust security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the SQR processing functionality. Attackers with high privilege levels and network access via HTTP can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized control over the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools environment. The vulnerability's exploitability is classified as easily accessible, indicating that the attack vector requires minimal technical sophistication while still maintaining the potential for severe consequences. The underlying flaw likely involves inadequate sanitization of user inputs or insufficient authorization checks during SQR report processing operations, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the system's behavior through carefully crafted HTTP requests.
The operational impact of successfully exploiting CVE-2018-3165 represents a critical compromise of the entire PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools environment. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.2 reflects the high severity of potential consequences across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains. Attackers who successfully compromise this vulnerability can achieve complete takeover of the affected systems, potentially gaining access to sensitive financial data, employee information, and business-critical processes managed through PeopleSoft. The high privilege requirement suggests that attackers must already have elevated access rights within the system, but this does not mitigate the severity of the potential damage. Organizations may face significant data breaches, operational disruptions, and compliance violations if this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in environments where PeopleSoft serves as the primary platform for enterprise operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying Oracle's security patches and updates released for this vulnerability, which would address the underlying input validation and access control issues. Network segmentation and enhanced monitoring of HTTP traffic to PeopleSoft components can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness that can lead to various security issues including privilege escalation and system compromise. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence within enterprise environments. Additional security measures should include implementing least-privilege access controls, conducting regular security assessments of PeopleSoft installations, and maintaining comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The CVSS vector indicates that while network access is required, the attack complexity is low, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise while still maintaining the potential for maximum impact on organizational security posture.