CVE-2021-2158 in Hyperion Financial Management
Summary
by MITRE • 04/23/2021
Vulnerability in the Hyperion Financial Management product of Oracle Hyperion (component: Task Automation). The supported version that is affected is 11.1.2.4. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Hyperion Financial Management. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Hyperion Financial Management accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Hyperion Financial Management accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Hyperion Financial Management. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 3.9 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L).
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2158 resides within Oracle Hyperion Financial Management's Task Automation component, specifically affecting version 11.1.2.4. This represents a significant security weakness that operates within the financial management software ecosystem where organizations manage critical accounting and reporting processes. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector is not trivial, it remains a genuine threat to enterprise financial systems that handle sensitive monetary data and business-critical financial operations. The attack requires a high-privileged attacker who can access the system through HTTP network connections, suggesting that the vulnerability may be leveraged through web-based interfaces or APIs that facilitate financial data processing tasks.
The technical flaw manifests in the Task Automation functionality where insufficient access controls and validation mechanisms exist, allowing for unauthorized modifications to financial data. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a weakness related to insufficient authorization and improper access control, specifically CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in software systems. The attack requires human interaction from individuals other than the attacker, indicating that social engineering or insider threat elements may be necessary for successful exploitation, though this does not mitigate the overall risk. The complexity of the attack path suggests that while it's not easily automated, it remains a serious concern for organizations that rely heavily on automated financial processes and data integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to include potential financial manipulation and system disruption. Attackers can achieve unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on sensitive financial data, which directly violates data integrity principles and can lead to significant financial losses or regulatory compliance issues. Additionally, the unauthorized read access to subsets of accessible data represents a confidentiality breach that could expose sensitive financial information to unauthorized parties. The partial denial of service capability further compounds the risk by potentially disrupting critical financial reporting and processing operations that organizations depend upon for business continuity. The CVSS 3.1 score of 3.9 reflects the balanced impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, indicating a moderate severity threat that requires immediate attention.
Organizations must implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including network segmentation to limit HTTP access to critical financial systems, implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unauthorized activities, and conducting regular security assessments of their Hyperion Financial Management implementations. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access, specifically targeting the financial data processing environment. Regular patch management and security updates should be prioritized, while security awareness training for personnel who interact with financial systems can help reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that may be required to exploit this vulnerability. The attack vector through HTTP connections also necessitates robust web application firewalls and network monitoring to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to financial management interfaces.