CVE-2010-4806 in Web Content Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The authoring tool in IBM Web Content Manager (WCM) 6.1.5, and 7.0.0.1 before CF003, allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions on draft creation by leveraging certain resource editor privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4806 resides within IBM Web Content Manager version 6.1.5 and 7.0.0.1 before cumulative fix CF003, representing a significant access control flaw that undermines the security posture of content management operations. This issue specifically targets the authoring tool component of the web content management system, where authenticated users can exploit resource editor privileges to bypass intended access restrictions. The vulnerability operates at the authorization level, where proper access controls should prevent unauthorized draft creation activities but instead allow malicious actors to circumvent these protections through legitimate privilege exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the draft creation workflow of IBM Web Content Manager. When users possess resource editor privileges, they should be restricted to specific content creation and modification activities, but the flaw allows them to escalate their privileges to create drafts without proper authorization. This represents a classic case of privilege escalation within a content management framework, where the system fails to properly enforce access control boundaries between different user roles and capabilities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs within the authoring tool, which serves as the primary interface for content creators and editors to interact with the system's content repository.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to potentially create, modify, or delete content that they should not have access to. This could result in content integrity compromise, unauthorized information disclosure, and potential disruption of content management workflows. The ability to bypass access restrictions on draft creation means that malicious actors could inject false content, manipulate existing drafts, or gain access to restricted content that should only be available to specific user groups. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on IBM Web Content Manager for enterprise content management, where content access controls are critical for maintaining information security and compliance requirements.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the cumulative fix CF003 for IBM Web Content Manager version 7.0.0.1 and ensuring all systems running version 6.1.5 receive appropriate patches. Security administrators should also review and tighten access control policies for resource editor privileges, implementing principle of least privilege configurations to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and maps to attack techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework that involve privilege escalation and unauthorized access to system resources. Regular security assessments of content management systems should include verification of access control implementations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in organizational environments.