CVE-2018-3194 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Activity Guide). 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 • 05/29/2023
The CVE-2018-3194 vulnerability resides within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, specifically in the Activity Guide subcomponent affecting versions 8.55 and 8.56. This represents a critical security flaw that demonstrates the ongoing challenges organizations face when securing enterprise resource planning systems. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage common network-based attack vectors without requiring specialized tools or extensive technical knowledge. The attack surface extends beyond the immediate PeopleTools component, creating cascading security implications that can affect interconnected enterprise applications. This vulnerability exemplifies how legacy enterprise systems often contain security gaps that can be exploited through relatively straightforward network-based attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the Activity Guide component processes HTTP requests, allowing unauthenticated attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and system functionality. The vulnerability requires human interaction from users other than the attacker, suggesting that social engineering or user manipulation may be necessary to trigger the exploit successfully. This dependency on user interaction creates a unique threat model where attackers must first compromise user trust or manipulate user behavior to achieve successful exploitation. The attack vector through HTTP access points indicates that the vulnerability exists in web-facing components that are typically exposed to external network traffic, making it particularly dangerous in environments where PeopleSoft systems are directly accessible from the internet.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data access, as successful exploitation can result in unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools data. This represents a significant integrity risk that can lead to data corruption, manipulation of business processes, and potential financial losses. The confidentiality impact affects a subset of accessible data, meaning that attackers can gain read access to sensitive information that may include personal data, financial records, or business-critical information. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 6.1 indicates a moderate to high severity level, reflecting the potential for significant business disruption. The vector assessment shows that the vulnerability is network-based, requires low attack complexity, and does not require prior privileges, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to compromise enterprise systems.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation efforts by applying Oracle's security patches and updates specifically designed to address this vulnerability. The security controls should include network segmentation to limit direct access to PeopleSoft components and implementing robust monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns. Additional defensive measures include configuring web application firewalls to filter suspicious HTTP requests and establishing privileged access controls to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and demonstrates how inadequate access controls in enterprise applications can create significant security risks. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a privilege escalation technique through web application exploitation, potentially enabling lateral movement within enterprise networks. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other PeopleSoft components and related enterprise applications that may present comparable attack surfaces.