CVE-2017-15012 in OpenText Documentum Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
OpenText Documentum Content Server (formerly EMC Documentum Content Server) through 7.3 does not properly validate the input of the PUT_FILE RPC-command, which allows any authenticated user to hijack an arbitrary file from the Content Server filesystem; because some files on the Content Server filesystem are security-sensitive, this leads to privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15012 affects OpenText Documentum Content Server versions through 7.3 and represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the system's security model. This issue stems from improper input validation within the PUT_FILE Remote Procedure Call command, which is part of the Content Server's core functionality for file operations. The flaw exists in the server's handling of file paths and permissions, creating a pathway for authenticated users to manipulate the filesystem in ways that should be restricted to authorized administrative personnel only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the RPC command processing logic where the PUT_FILE function fails to properly sanitize or validate the file path parameters provided by clients. When an authenticated user submits a request containing a specially crafted file path, the system does not adequately verify whether the target location is within the allowed boundaries or if the operation would result in unauthorized file access. This validation gap allows attackers to specify arbitrary file paths that can traverse the filesystem and potentially access or modify sensitive security-related files that should remain protected.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables authenticated users to escalate their privileges by hijacking security-sensitive files from the Content Server filesystem. The ability to access such files can lead to complete system compromise, as these typically contain configuration data, credential information, or other critical system components that can be leveraged to gain further access or manipulate the system's security controls. The vulnerability essentially transforms a standard authenticated user account into a potentially privileged attacker capable of performing unauthorized file operations.
The flaw aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a classic example of path traversal vulnerabilities that have been consistently exploited across various platforms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement, as attackers can leverage the compromised authentication to access files they should not normally have access to. The vulnerability also connects to privilege escalation tactics where initial access is used to gain higher-level system permissions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate application of vendor patches released for the affected versions, implementation of additional input validation controls within the Content Server configuration, and enforcement of principle of least privilege access controls. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Documentum installations to identify and restrict access to sensitive files, while also implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous file access patterns. The recommended approach involves both immediate remediation through official patches and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar validation issues in other RPC commands and system interfaces.