CVE-2014-4618 in Documentum Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Documentum Content Server before 6.7 SP2 P16 and 7.x before 7.1 P07 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via a user-created system object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4618 affects EMC Documentum Content Server versions prior to 6.7 SP2 P16 and 7.x versions before 7.1 P07, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables authenticated attackers to elevate their access rights within the content management system. This vulnerability resides in the system's object handling mechanisms and specifically targets the way the Documentum Content Server processes user-created system objects, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege elevation that undermines the integrity of the access control model.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of system object creation requests within the Documentum Content Server architecture, allowing authenticated users to manipulate object attributes and properties in ways that bypass normal security boundaries. When users create system objects, the server fails to adequately verify the permissions and privileges associated with the object creation process, enabling attackers to inject or modify system-level objects that should only be accessible to administrators or privileged system accounts. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of inadequate input validation and flawed privilege checking mechanisms, creating a path for attackers to manipulate the underlying object model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to potentially gain administrative control over content management systems that store sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, and regulated information. An authenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to create objects with elevated permissions, access restricted content, modify system configurations, or even establish persistent backdoors within the Documentum environment. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Documentum serves as a central repository for critical business information, as this vulnerability could lead to data breaches, compliance violations, and significant operational disruption.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for EMC Documentum Content Server versions 6.7 SP2 P16 and 7.1 P07, which address the privilege escalation mechanism through enhanced object validation and access control enforcement. Network segmentation and privileged access management controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of compromised accounts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual object creation patterns and privilege changes within the Documentum environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, as it exploits legitimate user accounts to gain elevated privileges within the system. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of Documentum environments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper access controls are enforced across all system objects and user accounts.