CVE-2011-4144 in Documentum Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in EMC Documentum Content Server 6.0, 6.5 before SP2 P02, 6.5 SP3 before SP3 P02, and 6.6 before P02 allows local users to obtain "highest super user privileges" by leveraging system administrator privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4144 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within EMC Documentum Content Server versions 6.0, 6.5 before SP2 P02, 6.5 SP3 before SP3 P02, and 6.6 before P02. This issue affects organizations relying on Documentum's content management platform where local users with system administrator privileges can exploit this weakness to gain the highest super user privileges. The vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation as defined by CWE-269, specifically targeting improper privileges allocation within enterprise content management systems. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized privilege elevation, creating a significant security risk for organizations depending on Documentum for their content management infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability appears to stem from insufficient validation of privilege levels during administrative operations within the Documentum Content Server environment. When local users with existing system administrator privileges attempt to perform certain operations, the system fails to properly verify whether these users should be granted super user privileges. This creates an exploitable condition where legitimate administrative access can be leveraged to obtain elevated privileges beyond what was originally intended. The issue likely resides in the authentication and authorization subsystem where privilege checks are either missing or improperly enforced, allowing for unauthorized privilege escalation through legitimate administrative channels. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through the exploitation of system administration privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4144 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of organizations using affected Documentum versions. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain access to the highest level of system privileges, enabling them to bypass all other security controls, modify critical system configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent access to the environment. The affected systems become vulnerable to data theft, system compromise, and unauthorized modifications that could affect thousands of documents and content management processes. Organizations may experience significant operational disruption and potential regulatory compliance violations, particularly in industries with strict data governance requirements. The vulnerability also increases the risk of insider threats, as users with legitimate administrative access could abuse their privileges to gain super user status without proper oversight.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for Documentum Content Server versions 6.5 SP2 P02, SP3 P02, and P02 for version 6.6. The patch addresses the underlying privilege validation mechanism that allows unauthorized privilege escalation. Additionally, system administrators should review and implement the principle of least privilege for all Documentum accounts, ensuring that only necessary users have system administrator privileges. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative activities should be implemented to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of Documentum configurations should be conducted to identify and remediate any additional privilege misconfigurations. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and establishing strict access control policies for Documentum systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and the need for comprehensive security testing of privileged access controls in enterprise content management platforms, as specified in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for access control and system and information integrity.