CVE-2016-0888 in Documentum D2
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Documentum D2 before 4.6 lacks intended ACLs for configuration objects, which allows remote authenticated users to modify objects via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0888 affects EMC Documentum D2 versions prior to 4.6, representing a significant access control flaw within the document management system. This issue stems from the absence of proper access control lists for configuration objects, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate system resources. The vulnerability specifically targets the authorization mechanisms that should govern user permissions and object access within the Documentum environment. Configuration objects in Documentum typically contain critical system settings and parameters that control how the application functions, making unauthorized modifications particularly dangerous for organizational security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the access control enforcement mechanisms that should validate user permissions before allowing modifications to sensitive configuration objects. Remote authenticated users who possess valid credentials can exploit this weakness through unspecified vectors that likely involve API calls or direct system interactions. The flaw essentially allows privilege escalation by enabling users to bypass intended security controls that should restrict modification access to only authorized administrators. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system fails to properly validate whether the authenticated user has the necessary permissions to perform the requested operations on configuration objects.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations using EMC Documentum D2 systems, as it enables attackers to modify critical system configurations without proper authorization. The ability to alter configuration objects could lead to system instability, data corruption, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or complete system compromise. Attackers could potentially disable security features, modify user permissions, or redirect system resources to facilitate further attacks. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network presence, making it particularly concerning for organizations with distributed or cloud-based Documentum implementations. This weakness undermines the fundamental security model of the system and could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks within the organization's information technology infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control scenarios where systems fail to properly enforce authorization mechanisms. This classification emphasizes the core issue of inadequate permission validation for system configuration objects. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be used to establish persistent access within the Documentum environment. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for EMC Documentum D2 version 4.6 or later, reviewing and strengthening access control policies, implementing network segmentation to limit access to Documentum systems, and conducting thorough security assessments of all configuration objects. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes and implementing proper audit logging for system modifications should be prioritized to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain system integrity.