CVE-2014-4622 in Documentum Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Documentum Content Server before 6.7 SP2 P17, 7.0 through P15, and 7.1 before P08 does not properly check authorization for subgroups of privileged groups, which allows remote authenticated sysadmins to gain super-user privileges, and bypass intended restrictions on data access and server actions, via unspecified vectors.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4622 affects EMC Documentum Content Server versions prior to specific service packs, creating a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the document management system. This issue resides in the privilege checking mechanism within the Content Server's access control implementation, where the system fails to properly validate whether users belonging to subgroups of privileged groups possess appropriate authorization levels. The flaw specifically impacts versions 6.7 before SP2 P17, 7.0 through P15, and 7.1 before P08, making these installations susceptible to unauthorized privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability represents a significant weakness in the principle of least privilege enforcement that is fundamental to secure access control systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate subgroup authorization validation within the Documentum Content Server's security framework. When authenticated system administrators attempt to access restricted resources or perform privileged operations, the system should verify that the user possesses the appropriate permissions through their direct group memberships. However, the flaw allows attackers to exploit the system's failure to properly check authorization for subgroups of privileged groups, effectively enabling them to bypass intended access controls. This authorization bypass occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of group membership hierarchies or direct access to administrative functions that should be restricted to top-level privileged users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and demonstrates how insufficient authorization checks can lead to privilege escalation attacks. From an attack perspective, this represents a critical weakness in the Content Server's security architecture that allows for unauthorized super-user privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4622 extends far beyond simple access control violations, as it provides attackers with super-user privileges that enable complete compromise of the Documentum Content Server environment. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows unauthorized users to bypass intended restrictions on data access and server actions, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to critical business documents. The ability to gain super-user privileges through group membership manipulation means that attackers can perform actions such as creating new administrative accounts, modifying existing user permissions, accessing restricted content, and executing arbitrary server operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the content management system, as it allows attackers to subvert the entire security model. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects multiple major versions of the Documentum Content Server, indicating a systemic flaw in the authorization implementation that requires immediate remediation.
Organizations affected by CVE-2014-4622 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and service packs that address the authorization bypass vulnerability. The recommended approach involves upgrading to EMC Documentum Content Server versions 6.7 SP2 P17, 7.0 P15, or 7.1 P08, which contain the necessary fixes for the subgroup authorization checking mechanism. Security administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing user group memberships and privilege assignments to identify any potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit administrative access points can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting indicates that attackers may leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to the system. Organizations should also consider implementing enhanced monitoring for unusual administrative activities and group membership changes that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that the authorization mechanisms are properly enforcing access controls and that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the Documentum Content Server environment.