CVE-2022-21345 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2022
Vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools product of Oracle PeopleSoft (component: Security). Supported versions that are affected are 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 • 01/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21345 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, specifically affecting versions 8.58 and 8.59. This issue falls under the broader category of security flaws within enterprise application platforms, where the vulnerability resides in the security component of the PeopleTools suite. The affected system operates within the PeopleSoft enterprise environment, which is widely utilized for business process management and human capital management solutions. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal privileges and network access can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 6.5, reflecting a medium to high severity level with particular emphasis on confidentiality impacts. The attack vector requires network access via HTTP, suggesting that the vulnerability can be exploited through standard web protocols without requiring physical access to the system infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls or authentication mechanisms within the PeopleSoft PeopleTools security framework. Attackers with low privileged accounts can exploit this weakness to bypass normal access restrictions and gain unauthorized access to critical data repositories. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can potentially provide complete access to all accessible data within the PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools environment. This represents a serious compromise of data integrity and confidentiality, as the attacker can access sensitive business information, employee data, financial records, and other proprietary corporate assets. The lack of user interaction requirements (UI:N) indicates that the attack can be executed automatically without requiring user deception or interaction, making it particularly dangerous. The vulnerability affects the entire PeopleTools component, meaning that all applications and services built on this platform could be compromised through a single exploit.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-21345 extends beyond immediate data compromise to include potential business disruption and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations utilizing PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools in financial services, healthcare, or other regulated industries face increased risk of data breaches that could result in significant financial penalties under frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX compliance requirements. The vulnerability's ability to grant complete access to all accessible data means that attackers could potentially modify or delete critical business information, leading to operational downtime and loss of business continuity. The low privilege requirement for exploitation suggests that insiders or attackers who have gained minimal access to the system could escalate their privileges and cause extensive damage. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and could undermine the entire security posture of organizations relying on PeopleSoft platforms for core business operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Oracle security patches and updates as released through Oracle Critical Patch Updates. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit unnecessary HTTP access to PeopleTools components, particularly in environments where the vulnerability exists. Security monitoring should be strengthened to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized data access attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The implementation of additional authentication controls, such as multi-factor authentication, should be considered as a defensive measure to reduce the impact of credential compromise. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the broader PeopleSoft ecosystem. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, while the CWE classification would likely relate to access control weaknesses and insufficient authorization checks. Organizations should also consider implementing data loss prevention measures and maintaining detailed audit logs to track access to sensitive PeopleSoft data and identify potential exploitation attempts.