CVE-2014-0642 in Documentum Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Documentum Content Server before 6.7 SP1 P26, 6.7 SP2 before P13, 7.0 before P13, and 7.1 before P02 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and read metadata from certain folders via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0642 represents a critical access control flaw within EMC Documentum Content Server implementations across multiple version branches. This weakness affects versions prior to specific service pack and patch levels including 6.7 SP1 P26, 6.7 SP2 P13, 7.0 P13, and 7.1 P02, creating a persistent security gap that enables authenticated attackers to circumvent intended access restrictions. The flaw manifests specifically when users attempt to read metadata from certain folders within the content management system, effectively undermining the authorization mechanisms that should protect sensitive information. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 related to valid accounts for privilege escalation. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it allows attackers to gather metadata that may reveal organizational structure, document relationships, and potentially sensitive content patterns that could facilitate further attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of access control lists or permission checking mechanisms within the Documentum Content Server architecture. Authentication is required for exploitation, meaning that attackers must first obtain valid credentials before attempting to leverage this flaw. However, once authenticated, the attacker can bypass the normal access controls that should prevent reading metadata from restricted folders. This behavior suggests a flaw in the permission validation logic where the system fails to properly verify access rights before allowing metadata retrieval operations. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple major releases indicates a fundamental flaw in the access control implementation that was not adequately addressed through the standard patching process, making it particularly concerning for organizations maintaining legacy Documentum installations.
Organizational impact of CVE-2014-0642 extends significantly beyond immediate data exposure risks. The ability to read metadata from restricted folders can provide attackers with valuable intelligence about content organization, access patterns, and potentially sensitive document relationships. This information can be used to refine subsequent attacks, such as targeting specific document types or identifying high-value content for more sophisticated exploitation attempts. The vulnerability affects the core integrity of the content management system's security model, potentially exposing intellectual property, confidential business information, and proprietary data that should remain protected. From a compliance perspective, organizations may face regulatory violations if sensitive metadata is accessed without proper authorization, particularly in industries with strict data protection requirements such as healthcare, finance, or government sectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0642 primarily focus on immediate patch application to the affected Documentum Content Server versions. Organizations should prioritize updating to the specified patch levels including 6.7 SP1 P26, 6.7 SP2 P13, 7.0 P13, and 7.1 P02 to address the root cause of the access control bypass. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive access control reviews to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred before patching. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote authenticated access control flaw necessitates regular security audits of Documentum implementations, particularly focusing on permission settings and access control configurations. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for privileged accounts and regular penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in their content management infrastructure. Implementation of these measures aligns with ATT&CK tactic TA0006 (credential access) and TA0005 (defense evasion) to strengthen overall security posture against similar access control vulnerabilities.