CVE-2014-4637 in Documentum WDK
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in EMC Documentum Web Development Kit (WDK) before 6.8 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via an unspecified parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The CVE-2014-4637 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw discovered in EMC Documentum Web Development Kit versions prior to 6.8, exposing organizations to significant security risks including phishing attacks and user deception. This vulnerability resides within the web application framework's handling of user input parameters, specifically targeting an unspecified parameter that controls redirection behavior. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the application's redirect functionality, potentially directing users to malicious websites without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability's classification as an open redirect issue indicates that the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it in redirect operations, creating an attack vector where malicious actors can craft URLs that appear legitimate but ultimately lead to harmful destinations.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability operates by accepting user-controllable input that is then used to construct redirect URLs without adequate validation or sanitization processes. This behavior aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability classification, which specifically addresses situations where applications redirect users to external sites without proper validation of the target URL. The flaw likely occurs in the application's URL redirection logic where parameters are directly incorporated into redirect operations without proper filtering or domain validation. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious URLs that contain crafted redirect parameters, potentially making the phishing attack appear more legitimate to victims who may be deceived into believing they are navigating within a trusted application environment. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects a web development framework that likely serves as a foundation for various enterprise applications, potentially exposing multiple systems within an organization's infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attacks, as it can enable more sophisticated social engineering campaigns and credential theft operations. When users are redirected to attacker-controlled domains, they may unknowingly enter credentials or sensitive information on malicious sites that mimic legitimate application interfaces. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Documentum WDK is deployed, as it can compromise user trust and potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive documents and data. Organizations utilizing this framework may experience increased security incidents, potential data breaches, and damage to their reputation when users fall victim to these redirect-based attacks. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple application instances and its potential to be leveraged in broader attack campaigns makes it particularly concerning for security teams managing enterprise web applications. The flaw also demonstrates weaknesses in input validation processes and highlights the importance of implementing proper security controls around all user-controllable parameters that influence application behavior.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for EMC Documentum WDK version 6.8 or later, which address the open redirect vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Security teams should also implement additional controls such as URL validation checks that ensure redirect targets are within approved domains, implement proper logging and monitoring of redirect operations, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in application functionality while effectively addressing the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, and establish security awareness training programs to educate users about recognizing phishing attempts that may exploit such vulnerabilities. These measures align with security best practices and help protect against the broader category of web application attacks that leverage user trust and input manipulation to compromise system security.