CVE-2010-2518 in P8 Content Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the P8 Content Engine (P8CE) 4.5.1 before FP3 and the P8 Content Search Engine (P8CSE) before 4.5.0 FP3 and 4.5.1 before FP1, as used in IBM FileNet P8 Content Manager (CM) and FileNet P8 Business Process Manager (BPM), allows remote attackers to gain privileges via unknown vectors. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2518 represents a critical privilege escalation issue within IBM FileNet P8 Content Manager and Business Process Manager platforms. This weakness affects specific versions of the P8 Content Engine and P8 Content Search Engine components, creating potential security risks for organizations relying on these enterprise content management systems. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to FP3 for P8CE 4.5.1 and before 4.5.0 FP3 and 4.5.1 before FP1 for P8CSE, indicating a targeted issue within the software's privilege management mechanisms. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways could potentially be exploited by malicious actors, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2010-2518 resides in the privilege management and access control implementations within the P8 Content Engine and P8 Content Search Engine components. These systems are designed to handle sensitive enterprise content and process management workflows, yet the vulnerability allows unauthorized remote access to elevated privileges. The issue likely stems from improper validation of user credentials or insufficient authorization checks during system operations. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through system weaknesses. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access or local system credentials to potentially leverage this vulnerability.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2518 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform administrative functions, modify critical content, or disrupt business processes managed through IBM FileNet P8 platforms. Organizations utilizing these systems face significant risks including data breaches, content tampering, and potential disruption of business operations. The vulnerability's presence in both Content Manager and Business Process Manager components creates a comprehensive threat surface that could affect document management, workflow automation, and enterprise content governance. Security teams must consider the implications for compliance requirements, as unauthorized access to content could violate regulatory standards such as SOX, HIPAA, or GDPR depending on the nature of the managed data.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM patches and service packs, specifically targeting the FP3 releases mentioned in the vulnerability description. System administrators should conduct comprehensive risk assessments to identify systems running vulnerable versions and implement network segmentation to limit exposure. Monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts and access patterns becomes critical, as attackers may attempt to exploit this vulnerability before patches are deployed. The vulnerability's classification as remote and privilege escalation suggests that defensive measures should include network-based intrusion detection systems, firewall rules limiting access to P8 services, and regular security audits of content management systems. Additionally, organizations should review their incident response procedures to ensure preparedness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability, which could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the enterprise environment.