CVE-2014-4636 in Documentum WDK
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in EMC Documentum Web Development Kit (WDK) before 6.8 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that perform Docbase operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The CVE-2014-4636 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within EMC Documentum Web Development Kit version 6.7 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of the Documentum platform, which is widely used for enterprise content management and document repository solutions. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions and execute unauthorized operations against Docbase systems, potentially compromising sensitive enterprise data and system integrity. The vulnerability exists in the web development framework components that handle user authentication and authorization processes, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Documentum serves as a central repository for critical business documents and information.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the WDK framework. When legitimate users interact with Documentum applications, their authentication sessions become vulnerable to manipulation through maliciously crafted web requests that exploit the absence of robust session validation controls. Attackers can construct specially formatted requests that appear to originate from authenticated users, thereby bypassing the normal authentication checks that should prevent unauthorized access to Docbase operations. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects the web services and API endpoints that handle document management functions, allowing attackers to perform operations such as document creation, modification, deletion, and access control changes without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and business disruption. Enterprise organizations relying on Documentum for content management face significant risks including unauthorized document access, data manipulation, and potential system corruption that could affect business continuity. The vulnerability particularly threatens organizations with extensive document repositories where unauthorized access could lead to intellectual property theft, compliance violations, and regulatory penalties. Additionally, the attack surface is broad since Documentum WDK components are typically exposed through web interfaces and APIs that are accessible to various user roles, increasing the potential for successful exploitation. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within enterprise networks where Documentum systems are integrated with other business applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to EMC Documentum WDK version 6.8 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the CSRF vulnerability. Security controls should be enhanced through proper implementation of anti-CSRF tokens, origin validation checks, and session management improvements within the web applications. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit exposure of Documentum components to untrusted networks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through web application attacks. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Documentum implementations, review authentication mechanisms, and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar issues in other enterprise applications and ensure continued protection against evolving threat landscapes.