CVE-2014-4635 in Documentum WDK
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in EMC Documentum Web Development Kit (WDK) before 6.8 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The CVE-2014-4635 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within EMC Documentum Web Development Kit version 6.7 and earlier, constituting a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this document management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The WDK serves as a comprehensive development framework for building web-based applications within the Documentum ecosystem, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit web application security weaknesses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the WDK framework. Attackers can leverage this flaw by injecting malicious JavaScript code or HTML content through unspecified vectors that typically involve user-controllable parameters in web requests. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them in web pages, creating an environment where malicious scripts can execute in the context of other users' browsers. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to bypass security controls that would normally prevent execution of untrusted code within the application's security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4635 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with persistent access to affected systems. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, redirect users to malicious sites, or even establish backdoor access through the compromised web application. The vulnerability affects the Documentum WDK's web interface components, potentially compromising sensitive enterprise documents and information stored within the Documentum repository. Organizations using this framework may face regulatory compliance issues, data breaches, and potential system compromise that could lead to broader network infiltration. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Documentum is often used in enterprise environments with high-value data assets and complex access control requirements.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations must upgrade to EMC Documentum Web Development Kit version 6.8 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms, output encoding, and Content Security Policy headers can provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on user input handling and implement automated security testing tools to identify potential XSS vectors. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Spearphishing Attachment, highlighting the need for both network-based and endpoint-based security controls. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the Documentum ecosystem or related applications.