CVE-2020-14627 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools product of Oracle PeopleSoft (component: Query). Supported versions that are affected are 8.56, 8.57 and 8.58. 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 3.1 Base Score 6.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/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 • 11/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-14627 resides within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, specifically in the Query component, affecting versions 8.56, 8.57, and 8.58. This represents a significant security weakness that falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms within software systems. The vulnerability operates as a remote code execution risk that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who gain network access through HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PeopleSoft systems are prevalent. The attack vector requires minimal privileges from the attacker's perspective, as no authentication is needed to initiate the exploit, while the attack's success depends on human interaction from legitimate users who are not part of the attack vector.
The technical flaw manifests in the Query component's insufficient validation of user inputs and inadequate access controls that allow malicious actors to manipulate the system's data handling mechanisms. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust relationships within the PeopleSoft framework to execute unauthorized operations. The CVSS 3.1 scoring of 6.1 indicates a moderate severity threat with low attack complexity and no required privileges, yet the potential impact spans both confidentiality and integrity aspects of the system. The vulnerability's ability to enable unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against PeopleSoft data represents a direct threat to data integrity, while the unauthorized read access capability compromises data confidentiality. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) clearly demonstrates that network-based attacks can be launched with minimal effort, requiring only a single user interaction, and can potentially cause cascading effects across multiple products within the PeopleSoft ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-14627 extends beyond the immediate PeopleSoft environment, as successful exploitation can compromise additional products that rely on PeopleSoft's infrastructure or data. This interconnectedness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the exploitation of local and remote system vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges and broader access within enterprise networks. The vulnerability's potential for data manipulation creates significant risks for financial and operational data integrity, particularly in industries where PeopleSoft systems manage critical business processes such as human resources, financial management, and enterprise resource planning. Organizations utilizing these PeopleSoft versions face the risk of unauthorized data modification that could affect payroll processing, financial reporting, and other mission-critical functions, while the read access capabilities could expose sensitive employee information, financial records, and strategic business data to unauthorized parties.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Oracle, as the vendor has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of PeopleSoft systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential attack vectors within the PeopleSoft ecosystem and ensure that all related components are updated and properly configured. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify any additional weaknesses that could be exploited by threat actors. The vulnerability's classification as a medium-risk threat underscores the importance of timely remediation and continuous monitoring to prevent exploitation attempts that could lead to significant business disruption and regulatory compliance issues.