CVE-2011-1046 in FileNet P8 Content Engine
Summary
by MITRE
IBM FileNet P8 Content Engine (aka P8CE) 4.0.1 through 5.0.0, as used in FileNet P8 Content Manager (CM) and FileNet P8 Business Process Manager (BPM), does not require the PRIVILEGED_WRITE access role for all intended Object Store modifications, which allows remote attackers to change a privileged property of an object via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1046 affects IBM FileNet P8 Content Engine versions 4.0.1 through 5.0.0, which are integral components of both FileNet P8 Content Manager and FileNet P8 Business Process Manager solutions. This security flaw represents a significant access control weakness that undermines the integrity of the content management system's permission model. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks during object store modifications, creating a scenario where unauthorized users can manipulate privileged properties of content objects without proper authentication. The affected system fails to enforce the required PRIVILEGED_WRITE access role, which should be mandatory for any modification operations targeting sensitive object attributes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a missing authorization validation mechanism within the FileNet P8 Content Engine's object modification routines. When remote attackers exploit this weakness, they can leverage unspecified vectors to manipulate privileged properties of objects stored within the content repository. This flaw operates at the application level and specifically targets the access control enforcement points within the Content Engine's API interfaces. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data modification to potentially compromise the entire content management infrastructure's integrity and confidentiality. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in privilege management where proper access controls are not enforced for sensitive operations, specifically CWE-284 for improper access control.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1046 is substantial as it allows remote attackers to perform unauthorized modifications to critical content objects within the FileNet P8 environment. Attackers can potentially alter metadata, access controls, or other privileged properties that govern how content is managed and accessed within the system. This vulnerability can lead to data integrity compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential disruption of business processes managed through the FileNet P8 Business Process Manager. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges, making the exploitation more accessible and dangerous. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it allows attackers to modify system properties without proper authorization.
Organizations utilizing affected IBM FileNet P8 versions face significant risk exposure from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where sensitive business data is managed through the content repository. The lack of proper access controls creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate content objects in ways that could compromise business operations or violate compliance requirements. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions of the Content Engine indicates a fundamental flaw in the access control implementation that requires immediate attention. Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized object modifications and conduct thorough access control reviews to identify potential exploitation of this weakness. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying IBM's security patches and updates that address the privilege enforcement mechanism, along with implementing additional access control measures and network segmentation to limit potential attack surface exposure.