CVE-2017-14526 in Documentum Administrator
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple XML external entity (XXE) vulnerabilities in the OpenText Documentum Administrator 7.2.0180.0055 allow remote authenticated users to list the contents of arbitrary directories, read arbitrary files, cause a denial of service, or, on Windows, obtain Documentum user hashes via a (1) crafted DTD, involving unspecified XML structures in a request to xda/com/documentum/ucf/server/transport/impl/GAIRConnector or crafted XML file in a MediaProfile file (2) import or (3) check in.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2019
The CVE-2017-14526 vulnerability represents a critical XML external entity processing flaw in OpenText Documentum Administrator version 7.2.0180.0055, classified under CWE-611 as improper restriction of XML external entity reference. This vulnerability exists within the XML parsing functionality of the Documentum system, specifically affecting the xda/com/documentum/ucf/server/transport/impl/GAIRConnector component and MediaProfile file handling mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to exploit XML parsing logic through crafted XML structures that reference external entities, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages XML external entity processing where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize XML input before processing. When an attacker submits a crafted DTD (Document Type Definition) or malformed XML file, the system's XML parser attempts to resolve external entity references, leading to directory traversal attacks and arbitrary file reads. The vulnerability manifests in three distinct attack vectors: through the GAIRConnector endpoint, via crafted XML files in MediaProfile imports, and during check-in operations. On Windows systems, this weakness can be exploited to obtain Documentum user hashes, representing a severe privilege escalation risk.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to perform directory listing operations and read arbitrary files from the system filesystem. This capability allows for comprehensive reconnaissance of the target environment, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, user credentials, and system resources. The denial of service component of this vulnerability can disrupt business operations by causing application instability or complete service unavailability. The combination of remote code execution potential and credential harvesting makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Documentum serves as a critical content management platform.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers, implementing strict input validation for all XML processing components, and applying proper access controls to limit the scope of authenticated user privileges. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for XML external entity processing and T1083 for file and directory listing. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to Documentum Administrator interfaces and establish robust monitoring for unusual XML processing patterns. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments are essential to prevent exploitation of similar XXE vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications, as this class of vulnerability remains prevalent in many legacy systems due to insufficient XML security hardening measures.