CVE-2021-35609 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2021
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools product of Oracle PeopleSoft (component: SQR). Supported versions that are affected are 8.57, 8.58 and 8.59. 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 access to critical data or complete access to all PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 6.5 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-35609 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, specifically affecting the SQR component across versions 8.57, 8.58, and 8.59. This vulnerability operates within the context of enterprise resource planning systems where PeopleSoft serves as a critical business application platform. The flaw manifests as an authentication bypass mechanism that allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the PeopleSoft environment, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on this platform for mission-critical operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the SQR component of PeopleTools, which is designed for report generation and processing within the PeopleSoft ecosystem. The flaw enables low privileged attackers with network access via HTTP to circumvent normal authentication mechanisms, effectively allowing them to escalate their privileges without proper credentials. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication controls and improper access validation, aligning with CWE-287 which addresses authentication failures. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by its network accessibility, meaning attackers do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge beyond basic network connectivity.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-35609 extends far beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of all accessible PeopleSoft data. Organizations utilizing PeopleSoft for financial management, human resources, or other critical business functions face severe risks including financial data exposure, employee information breaches, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The CVSS score of 6.5 indicates a moderate to high severity threat with significant confidentiality impact, though the lack of integrity or availability impact suggests the primary concern lies in unauthorized data access rather than system disruption. This vulnerability directly affects the principle of least privilege and can result in unauthorized access to sensitive business information, potentially compromising competitive advantages and regulatory compliance.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying Oracle's security patches and updates to affected versions, implementing network segmentation to limit access to PeopleSoft components, and conducting comprehensive access control reviews. Network-based mitigations such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to restrict HTTP access to PeopleSoft applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and monitoring for authentication bypass exploits. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, particularly leveraging weak authentication mechanisms and network-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous access patterns and unauthorized data access attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.