CVE-2015-0549 in Documentum D2
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in EMC Documentum D2 before 4.5 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The CVE-2015-0549 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in EMC Documentum D2 versions prior to 4.5, exposing organizations to significant web application security risks. This vulnerability specifically affects the Documentum D2 content management system, which is widely used for enterprise document management and collaboration. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access sensitive information. The unspecified vectors in the original description suggest that the flaw may exist across multiple input handling mechanisms within the Documentum D2 platform, making it particularly challenging to defend against and remediate. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently identified as one of the top ten OWASP risks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Documentum D2 application framework. When authenticated users interact with the system, their input data may not be properly sanitized before being rendered back to other users or stored in application components. This creates opportunities for attackers to embed malicious scripts that execute in the context of legitimate user sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation. The authenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require special privileges to exploit this vulnerability, as they can leverage existing user accounts to perform malicious activities. The attack surface is particularly concerning because Documentum D2 systems often contain sensitive enterprise data, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizations that rely on these platforms for business-critical operations. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple application vectors indicates that the underlying security controls are insufficiently implemented across the platform's various modules and interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0549 extends far beyond immediate script execution capabilities, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks that can compromise entire enterprise environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access patterns, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even modify content within the Documentum D2 system. The authenticated nature of the attack means that security controls that rely on user authentication may be bypassed, as the vulnerability allows malicious code execution within the context of legitimate user sessions. Organizations using Documentum D2 may experience significant data exposure, as the vulnerability enables attackers to access documents and content that would normally be protected by access controls. The potential for privilege escalation exists when attackers can manipulate the application's behavior to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions or sensitive data repositories. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, where malicious scripts can intercept and manipulate data flows between users and the Documentum D2 system, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire document management infrastructure.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that address both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements for CVE-2015-0549. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to EMC Documentum D2 version 4.5 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent the execution of malicious scripts. Security teams should also implement additional defensive measures such as content security policies, strict input sanitization procedures, and regular security assessments of the Documentum D2 environment. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns and anomalous user behavior. Regular security training for administrators and users can help identify potential exploitation attempts, while comprehensive logging and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized script execution attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can identify similar weaknesses across their Documentum D2 deployments and other web applications, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities are not present in their broader technology infrastructure. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched environment to ensure that legitimate functionality remains intact while malicious script injection attempts are properly blocked.