CVE-2014-2504 in Documentum D2
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Documentum D2 3.1 before P20, 3.1 SP1 before P02, 4.0 before P10, 4.1 before P13, and 4.2 before P01 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and execute arbitrary Documentum Query Language (DQL) queries by calling (1) a core method or (2) a D2FS web-service method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2504 affects EMC Documentum D2 versions prior to specific patch levels, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise content management systems. This vulnerability exists within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Documentum D2 platform, which is widely deployed for enterprise document management and collaboration. The flaw allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary Documentum Query Language queries, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the system's access controls. The vulnerability impacts multiple version streams including 3.1, 4.0, 4.1, and 4.2, with each requiring specific patch levels to remediate the issue. The affected components include both core methods and D2FS web-service methods, indicating a broad attack surface that could potentially be exploited by malicious actors who have already gained initial access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the Documentum D2 platform's method invocation framework. When authenticated users call specific core methods or D2FS web-service endpoints, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has adequate permissions to execute certain DQL queries. This weakness creates a privilege escalation path where legitimate users can bypass intended security controls and gain access to data or functionality beyond their assigned permissions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the query execution layer, allowing attackers to manipulate the underlying Documentum Query Language which serves as the primary interface for database operations within the Documentum ecosystem. The flaw essentially enables a form of SQL injection at the application level, where the system accepts user-supplied DQL commands without proper sanitization or authorization verification, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable comprehensive data exfiltration and system manipulation within the Documentum environment. An attacker with authenticated access can leverage this vulnerability to discover sensitive information across multiple document repositories, potentially accessing confidential business documents, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information stored within the system. The ability to execute arbitrary DQL queries means that an attacker could potentially enumerate entire document databases, extract metadata, or even modify document content through the manipulation of DQL commands. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in significant business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and financial losses. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Documentum systems often contain critical business data and serve as central repositories for sensitive corporate information, making the potential for data breaches and unauthorized access particularly damaging.
Organizations affected by CVE-2014-2504 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-supplied patches for each affected version stream, specifically targeting the P20, P02, P10, P13, and P01 patch levels mentioned in the vulnerability description. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized users can access the D2FS web-service methods and core system components. Additional security measures include implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring of DQL query execution, particularly for unusual or unauthorized query patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in security-critical components, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious DQL query patterns. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the future, as this type of access control flaw can provide attackers with persistent access to sensitive enterprise data.