PeopleSoft Application Messaging Gateway XML External Entities (XXE) attack can be used to read files

peoplesoft-xxe-read-files (10520)

Medium Risk

Description:

PeopleSoft PeopleTools 8 is vulnerable to an XML External Entities (XXE) attack that can be used to read local files. This is caused by a vulnerability in the PeopleSoft Application Messaging Gateway, which allows for communication and synchronization of data between different PeopleSoft installations.

The Application Messaging Gateway is administered using the Gateway Administration servlet, which is accessible to everyone by default. The servlet can be used to add handlers, to which data sent to the gateway is then delivered. The SimpleFileHandler is used to push data out of the PeopleSoft system. If a remote attacker submits malicious XML data containing XML External Entities (XXE) to the SimpleFileHandler using an HTTP POST request, the attacker could cause the system to return portions of arbitrary files, which may contain server configuration information or other confidential information.

Platforms Affected:

• Oracle, PeopleSoft PeopleTools 8.14
• Oracle, PeopleSoft PeopleTools 8.15
• Oracle, PeopleSoft PeopleTools 8.16
• Oracle, PeopleSoft PeopleTools 8.17
• Oracle, PeopleSoft PeopleTools 8.18

Remedy:

For vulnerability detection:

Enable the following checks in the ISS Protection Platform:
PeoplesoftXxeReadFiles

For Virtual Patch:

Enable the following checks in the ISS Protection Platform:
HTTP_POST_PeopleSoft_XXE

Block or restrict the following in the ISS Protection Platform as appropriate to the environment:
Port configured on install

For Manual Protection:

Upgrade to the latest version of PeopleTools (8.19 or later), when it becomes available from PeopleSoft Customer Connection Web site. See References.

As a workaround,Restrict access to the vulnerable servlets.

1. In the weblogic.properties file (the main configuration file for WebLogic), change the following line:
   weblogic.allow.execute.weblogic.servlet.servlets/gateway.administration=everyone

   to:

   weblogic.allow.execute.weblogic.servlet.servlets/gateway.administration=system
2. Similarly:
   weblogic.allow.execute.weblogic.servlet.servlets/gateway=everyone

   must be changed to:

   weblogic.allow.execute.weblogic.servlet.servlets/gateway=system

These changes will password-restrict access to the vulnerable servlets.

Consequences:

Obtain Information

References:

• BugTraq Mailing List, Tue Oct 29 2002 - 17:23:25 CST , XXE (Xml eXternal Entity) attack at http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2002-10/0411.html.
• Internet Security Systems Security Advisory, January 20, 2003, PeopleSoft XML External Entities Vulnerability at http://bvlive01.iss.net/issEn/delivery/xforce/alertdetail.jsp?oid=21811.
• BID-6647: PeopleSoft XML External Entity Remote File Disclosure Vulnerability
• CVE-2002-1252: The Application Messaging Gateway for PeopleTools 8.1x before 8.19, as used in various PeopleSoft products, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via certain XML External Entities (XXE) fields in an HTTP POST request that is processed by the SimpleFileHandler handler.

Reported:

Jan 20, 2003

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