CVE-2017-14757 in Document Sciences xPression
Summary
by MITRE
OpenText Document Sciences xPression (formerly EMC Document Sciences xPression) v4.5SP1 Patch 13 (older versions might be affected as well) is prone to SQL Injection: /xDashboard/html/jobhistory/downloadSupportFile.action, parameter: jobRunId. In order for this vulnerability to be exploited, an attacker must authenticate to the application first.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14757 affects OpenText Document Sciences xPression version 4.5SP1 Patch 13 and potentially older versions, representing a critical SQL injection weakness within the application's web interface. This flaw exists in the jobhistory/downloadSupportFile.action endpoint where the jobRunId parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The vulnerability requires prior authentication to the application, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials before attempting exploitation, though this does not mitigate the severity of the issue. The presence of SQL injection vulnerabilities in enterprise document management systems creates significant risk as these applications often contain sensitive business data and may serve as entry points for broader network infiltration. The affected component specifically handles job history downloads, suggesting that an attacker could potentially manipulate database queries to extract unauthorized information or gain elevated privileges within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper parameter handling within the web application's backend processing logic. When the jobRunId parameter is passed to the downloadSupportFile.action endpoint, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code through the parameter, potentially manipulating the underlying database operations to execute unintended commands. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, where insufficient input validation permits attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, indicating that the vulnerability exists within the application's business logic layer rather than at the network protocol level, making it more challenging to detect through network-based security controls. This authentication requirement also suggests that the vulnerability may be exploited through privilege escalation attacks if the authenticated user has elevated permissions within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data extraction, as it could enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including unauthorized data access, data modification, or even complete system compromise. In enterprise environments where Document Sciences xPression is used for document processing and workflow management, the potential for data breaches is significant as the system likely handles confidential business documents, financial records, and other sensitive information. The vulnerability could be leveraged to extract job execution details, user information, or other system metadata that might aid in further attacks. Additionally, since the application is designed for enterprise document management, an attacker could potentially use the SQL injection to gain access to other connected systems or databases that might share the same infrastructure, creating cascading security risks. The fact that this affects a document processing application also means that attackers could potentially disrupt business operations by corrupting document workflows or accessing intellectual property stored within the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14757 should focus on immediate patch application from OpenText, as this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases of the software. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar issues in custom applications, following secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and NIST guidelines for web application security. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit the potential impact of authenticated attacks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in job history downloads or database access attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify other potential injection vulnerabilities within the application stack. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementation, ensuring that authenticated users have only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their legitimate functions. Security teams should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous SQL query patterns indicative of injection attacks, while maintaining detailed audit logs of all job history access activities for forensic analysis purposes. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1046 for network service scanning, with potential progression to privilege escalation and lateral movement if not properly mitigated.