CVE-2014-2510 in Documentum Foundation Services
Summary
by MITRE
The JAXB XML parser in EMC Documentum Foundation Services (DFS) 6.6 before P39, 6.7 SP1 before P28, and 6.7 SP2 before P15, as used in My Documentum for Desktop, My Documentum for Microsoft Outlook, and CenterStage, allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2510 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within the JAXB XML parser component of EMC Documentum Foundation Services. This security weakness affects multiple versions of the Documentum platform including DFS 6.6 before P39, 6.7 SP1 before P28, and 6.7 SP2 before P15, which are utilized in various client applications such as My Documentum for Desktop, My Documentum for Microsoft Outlook, and CenterStage. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of external entity declarations within the XML processing pipeline, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's XML parsing capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows authenticated remote attackers to leverage XML External Entity processing by constructing malicious XML payloads that contain external entity declarations. When the affected JAXB parser processes these malformed XML documents, it automatically resolves and retrieves the contents of external resources specified in the entity declarations. This behavior occurs because the parser is configured to accept and process external entity references without adequate restrictions or validation mechanisms. Attackers can craft XML requests that reference local system files, network resources, or even internal services, enabling them to extract sensitive information from the target system through the XML processing interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities within the compromised environment. An authenticated attacker can exploit this weakness to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem, potentially accessing configuration files, database connection strings, user credentials, or other sensitive data stored within the Documentum environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the XML parsing layer, meaning that any application or service within the Documentum ecosystem that processes XML input through the affected JAXB parser could be compromised. This creates a broad attack surface that extends across multiple client applications and potentially affects the underlying Documentum infrastructure.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories. The remediation approach should focus on implementing strict XML parser configurations that disable external entity resolution entirely, particularly by setting appropriate parser properties to prevent the processing of external entities. Organizations should also implement network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous XML processing activities. Additionally, the affected systems require immediate patching with the vendor-provided security updates that address the XXE processing vulnerabilities within the JAXB parser implementation. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to ensure that similar weaknesses do not exist in other XML processing components within the Documentum environment or related systems.