CVE-2008-3685 in Documentum Applicationxtender Workflow Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in aws_tmxn.exe in the Admin Agent service in the server in EMC Documentum ApplicationXtender Workflow, possibly 5.40 SP1 and earlier, allows remote attackers to upload arbitrary files, and execute arbitrary code, via directory traversal sequences in requests to TCP port 2606.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3685 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Admin Agent service component of EMC Documentum ApplicationXtender Workflow version 5.40 SP1 and earlier. This weakness exists in the aws_tmxn.exe executable which handles incoming requests on TCP port 2606, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this document management platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path resolution mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing file operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted directory traversal sequences that manipulate the file system path resolution logic within the Admin Agent service. When remote attackers send malicious requests containing traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to the designated TCP port 2606, the service processes these inputs without proper validation, allowing attackers to navigate outside the intended directory structure. This flaw enables unauthorized file system access and manipulation, potentially permitting attackers to upload malicious files to arbitrary locations within the server's file system. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. Once an attacker successfully exploits the directory traversal vulnerability, they can upload malicious executables or scripts to critical system directories, potentially gaining persistent access to the server environment. This escalation of privileges allows for complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the core workflow functionality of EMC Documentum ApplicationXtender, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for document management and workflow automation, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking to disrupt business operations or gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available service packs and security updates from EMC. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to TCP port 2606, limiting exposure to trusted network segments only. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by running the Admin Agent service with minimal required permissions and ensuring that the service operates under a dedicated restricted account. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Documentum platform. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious traffic patterns and unauthorized access attempts to the affected port. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in enterprise applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and script injection, and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access and execute malicious commands within the compromised environment.