CVE-2014-2508 in Documentum Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Documentum Content Server before 6.7 SP1 P28, 6.7 SP2 before P14, 7.0 before P15, and 7.1 before P05 allows remote authenticated users to conduct Documentum Query Language (DQL) injection attacks and bypass intended restrictions on database actions via vectors involving DQL hints.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-2508 represents a critical security flaw in EMC Documentum Content Server versions prior to specific patch levels. This issue affects multiple major versions including 6.7 SP1 P28, 6.7 SP2 P14, 7.0 P15, and 7.1 P05, indicating a widespread problem within the Documentum ecosystem that required significant patching efforts across different release branches. The vulnerability specifically targets the Documentum Query Language (DQL) processing mechanism, which serves as the primary interface for database queries within the content management system. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the underlying database operations through carefully crafted DQL hints, which are optional parameters that influence query execution behavior. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-94 category of Code Injection, specifically representing a form of query injection that operates at the database interaction layer rather than traditional application code injection points.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of DQL hints, which are typically used to optimize query performance or specify execution parameters. When an authenticated user submits a DQL query containing maliciously crafted hints, the Documentum Content Server fails to properly sanitize or validate these hints before incorporating them into the database execution plan. This improper input handling creates an environment where attackers can inject arbitrary database commands or manipulate query restrictions that were intended to protect system integrity. The bypass of intended database action restrictions means that authenticated users can potentially execute queries that would normally be prohibited, including those that might access unauthorized data sets, modify system configurations, or perform administrative operations. The authentication requirement for exploitation indicates that this vulnerability cannot be leveraged by anonymous attackers, but rather requires legitimate user credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls are compromised.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2508 extends beyond simple data access violations to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity threats. Organizations using affected Documentum versions face significant risks including unauthorized data exposure, privilege escalation within the content management system, and potential lateral movement opportunities for attackers who have gained initial access through other means. The vulnerability's ability to bypass intended database restrictions means that attackers could potentially access sensitive corporate documents, modify content permissions, or execute destructive operations against the underlying database infrastructure. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Documentum serves as a central repository for critical business information, intellectual property, and regulated data. The impact on database operations could also lead to performance degradation, data corruption, or denial of service conditions if attackers exploit the vulnerability to execute resource-intensive queries. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers could use it to bypass access controls and potentially hide their activities within legitimate system operations.
Organizations affected by CVE-2014-2508 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to address the vulnerability, ensuring that all affected Documentum Content Server versions are updated to the specified patch levels. The remediation process requires careful planning and testing to ensure that patch deployment does not disrupt existing content management operations or break dependent applications. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software within their environment and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review and strengthen their authentication controls, implement network segmentation to limit access to Documentum systems, and establish robust audit logging to track DQL query execution and identify anomalous behavior patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and sanitization in database interaction layers, emphasizing that even authenticated users should not be granted unrestricted access to database operations through query manipulation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on suspicious DQL injection patterns, providing an additional layer of defense against this class of vulnerability.