CVE-2018-3205 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component of Oracle PeopleSoft Products (subcomponent: Workflow). 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3205 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component, specifically within the Workflow subcomponent of Oracle PeopleSoft Products. This security flaw affects multiple supported versions including 8.55, 8.56, and 8.57, representing a significant exposure across a substantial portion of the PeopleSoft product ecosystem. The vulnerability classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage this weakness with minimal technical sophistication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network accessibility is not properly restricted.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the workflow processing functionality of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools. Attackers can exploit this weakness by initiating HTTP requests to the affected system without requiring any prior authentication credentials. The vulnerability requires only network access via HTTP protocols to be successfully exploited, which means that any system with exposed web services or application interfaces could potentially be compromised. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, specifically highlighting the dangers of allowing unauthorized access through network-based interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools environment and can potentially affect additional products within the Oracle ecosystem. This cascading effect occurs because PeopleSoft products often integrate with other Oracle applications and databases, creating interconnected attack vectors. Successful exploitation enables attackers to perform unauthorized operations including updates, inserts, and deletes on sensitive data within the PeopleSoft system. Additionally, the vulnerability permits unauthorized read access to specific subsets of accessible data, creating potential for data exfiltration and information disclosure. The CVSS 3.0 score of 6.1 reflects the moderate severity of this vulnerability, with particular emphasis on the confidentiality and integrity impacts that can significantly compromise business operations and data security.
The requirement for human interaction from individuals other than the attacker indicates that this vulnerability likely involves a social engineering component or requires specific user actions to complete the exploitation process. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the context of CWE-352 which addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks and similar user-initiated exploitation scenarios. The security implications of such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in enterprise environments where workflow processes often handle sensitive business data including financial records, employee information, and operational details. The potential for unauthorized data modification combined with read access creates substantial risk for business continuity and regulatory compliance, especially in industries subject to strict data protection requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3205 should include immediate implementation of network access controls to restrict HTTP access to PeopleSoft applications, proper authentication enforcement, and application-level security hardening. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as requiring human interaction suggests that user education and awareness programs should be implemented to prevent accidental exploitation through phishing or social engineering attacks. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem and ensure that all affected versions receive appropriate patches or updates from Oracle as soon as they become available.