CVE-2019-3015 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools product of Oracle PeopleSoft (component: Integration Broker). Supported versions that are affected are 8.56 and 8.57. 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 read access to a subset of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3015 resides within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools component known as Integration Broker, representing a significant security weakness in Oracle's enterprise application suite. This flaw affects specifically versions 8.56 and 8.57 of the PeopleTools product, making it a targeted issue for organizations utilizing these particular releases. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal prerequisites to leverage this weakness effectively. The attack vector involves network-based exploitation through HTTP protocols, meaning that malicious actors can potentially compromise systems without requiring physical access or complex authentication mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls within the Integration Broker component, which serves as a critical communication layer between different PeopleSoft applications and external systems. This flaw allows attackers with low privilege levels to perform unauthorized data read operations against specific subsets of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools accessible data. The confidentiality impact is rated at level four out of ten on the CVSS scale, indicating that while the vulnerability does not enable complete system compromise or data modification, it does provide attackers with access to sensitive information that could be valuable for further exploitation attempts. The CVSS vector analysis reveals that the attack requires only low complexity to exploit, minimal privileges from the attacker's perspective, and no user interaction is needed for successful exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security architecture of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools. Organizations running affected versions face potential exposure of sensitive business data, including but not limited to employee information, financial records, and operational details that could be leveraged for competitive advantage or malicious purposes. The low privilege requirement for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by individuals with minimal access rights, potentially including legitimate users with restricted permissions. This characteristic aligns with common attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the data exposure category, where adversaries exploit weak access controls to gain unauthorized data access. The vulnerability's impact on confidentiality can be further exacerbated when combined with other attack vectors, potentially creating pathways for more extensive system compromise.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation efforts by upgrading to patched versions of PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, specifically targeting versions that have addressed this vulnerability. The implementation of network segmentation and access controls can serve as temporary mitigations while permanent solutions are deployed. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual HTTP traffic patterns and unauthorized data access attempts within the Integration Broker component. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems within their PeopleSoft environment. The vulnerability's characteristics align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a clear violation of principle of least privilege that should be addressed through proper access control mechanisms. Regular security audits and patch management procedures should be enhanced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in future releases.