CVE-2013-6174 in Document Sciences xPression
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple open redirect vulnerabilities in xAdmin in EMC Document Sciences xPression 4.1 SP1 before Patch 47, 4.2 before Patch 26, and 4.5 before Patch 05, as used in Documentum Edition, Enterprise Edition Publish Engine, and Enterprise Edition Compuset Engine, allow remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6174 represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in EMC Document Sciences xPression versions 4.1 SP1 through 4.5, affecting multiple product editions including Documentum Edition, Enterprise Edition Publish Engine, and Enterprise Edition Compuset Engine. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the xAdmin component, which processes user-supplied parameters without proper sanitization or verification mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the application fails to validate redirect URLs, allowing malicious actors to manipulate parameters that control navigation behavior. According to CWE-601, this vulnerability falls under the category of open redirect vulnerabilities, where applications fail to validate the destination of redirect operations, creating pathways for attackers to direct users to malicious websites. The affected systems operate within enterprise document management and publishing environments where legitimate users interact with the xAdmin interface to manage document processing workflows and system configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper URL validation in the xAdmin component's parameter handling logic. Attackers can construct malicious URLs containing redirect parameters that point to phishing sites or malicious content, which then get processed and executed by the vulnerable xPression applications. The unspecified parameters mentioned in the CVE description suggest that multiple entry points within the xAdmin interface are susceptible to this manipulation, potentially including authentication flows, configuration management functions, and administrative navigation controls. This weakness enables attackers to craft deceptive links that appear legitimate within the context of the Document Sciences xPression environment, making them particularly effective for social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple versions and editions of the software, indicating a systemic issue within the application's redirect handling mechanisms rather than an isolated flaw.
The operational consequences of CVE-2013-6174 extend beyond simple phishing attacks, creating significant risks for enterprise security environments that rely on Document Sciences xPression for document processing and publishing operations. Organizations using affected versions face potential compromise of user credentials, unauthorized access to sensitive document management systems, and disruption of legitimate business processes. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal security controls by redirecting users to malicious sites that can harvest authentication tokens, capture user input, or deploy malware. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers can leverage the redirect functionality to establish malicious communication channels. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where xPression systems may be accessible to external users or where administrative interfaces are exposed to untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6174 require immediate implementation of patch management procedures to address the vulnerability in affected EMC Document Sciences xPression installations. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided patches for versions 4.1 SP1 through 4.5, specifically targeting Patch 47 for 4.1 SP1, Patch 26 for 4.2, and Patch 05 for 4.5. Network administrators should implement URL validation controls at perimeter defenses, filtering redirect parameters to ensure they only point to approved internal domains. The implementation of proper input sanitization and validation within the application layer provides additional defense-in-depth measures, requiring all redirect operations to verify destination URLs against a whitelist of trusted domains. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous redirect patterns and unusual navigation behaviors within the xAdmin interface. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying destination URLs, particularly when navigating through administrative interfaces, as this vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering tactics that rely on user trust in legitimate application interfaces. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that patch application does not disrupt legitimate document processing workflows while maintaining the security controls necessary to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.