CVE-2015-0518 in Documentum D2
Summary
by MITRE
The Properties service in the D2FS web-service component in EMC Documentum D2 3.1 through SP1, 4.0 and 4.1 before 4.1 P22, and 4.2 before P11 allows remote authenticated users to obtain superuser privileges via an unspecified method call that modifies group permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0518 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within EMC Documentum D2 web-service component, specifically affecting the Properties service functionality. This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of the Documentum D2 platform including versions 3.1 through SP1, 4.0 and 4.1 before P22, and 4.2 before P11. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to escalate their privileges to superuser status by exploiting an unspecified method call that modifies group permissions within the system. This represents a significant security weakness in the access control mechanisms of the Documentum platform, potentially enabling unauthorized users to gain elevated system privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of method calls within the Properties service implementation. When authenticated users make specific requests to the D2 web-service component, the system fails to adequately verify the permissions associated with these method calls. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate group permission settings through crafted requests that modify the underlying access control structure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the service level within the web component architecture, meaning that successful exploitation does not require local system access or specialized hardware. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor pathway for authenticated users to modify their own privileges or those of other users within the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations utilizing EMC Documentum D2 platforms. The ability to escalate privileges without requiring additional authentication mechanisms means that attackers who have gained initial access to the system can quickly assume administrative control over document management resources. This could result in unauthorized data access, modification of critical document permissions, and potential data exfiltration. The impact extends beyond individual document security to encompass the entire platform's integrity, as superuser privileges would allow attackers to bypass other security controls and potentially access sensitive system configurations. Organizations relying on Documentum D2 for enterprise content management would face significant operational disruption if this vulnerability were exploited.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for the affected versions of EMC Documentum D2, particularly the service packs and point releases that address this specific vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit access to the D2 web-service components to only authorized users and systems. Monitoring and logging of method calls within the Properties service should be enhanced to detect anomalous privilege modification activities. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege configurations and regular security assessments of the Documentum platform would help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1484 (Domain Policy Modification) in threat modeling frameworks. Organizations should also consider conducting security audits to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing privilege escalation vulnerabilities in enterprise content management systems.