CVE-2004-0379 in Sharepoint Portal Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2001 allow remote attackers to process arbitrary web content and steal cookies via certain server scripts.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2017
Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2001 contains multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that represent a critical security risk for organizations relying on this platform for content management and collaboration. These vulnerabilities fall under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw exists in the server scripts that process user input without proper sanitization or validation, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary web content within the context of the victim's browser session, effectively bypassing traditional security boundaries that separate user data from system processes.
The technical implementation of these XSS vulnerabilities stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within SharePoint Portal Server 2001's core scripting components. When users submit data through various portal interfaces or web forms, the server fails to adequately sanitize or encode the input before rendering it in web pages. This creates opportunities for attackers to embed malicious javascript code or other harmful content that executes when other users browse to affected pages. The attack vector typically involves crafting specially formatted input that, when processed by the server scripts, gets embedded directly into HTML output without proper escaping or encoding. This allows attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends far beyond simple data theft, as they can enable complete session hijacking and privilege escalation within the SharePoint environment. Attackers who successfully exploit these XSS flaws can steal authentication cookies and impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining access to sensitive corporate information, administrative functions, or confidential documents stored within the SharePoint portal. The consequences are particularly severe in enterprise environments where SharePoint servers often host critical business data, employee information, and proprietary content. Additionally, these vulnerabilities can serve as initial access points for more sophisticated attacks, enabling attackers to establish persistent presence within the network through techniques such as credential harvesting or malware deployment. The impact is amplified when considering that SharePoint Portal Server 2001 was widely deployed in corporate environments, making these vulnerabilities attractive targets for organized cyber attacks.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate these XSS vulnerabilities in SharePoint Portal Server 2001 environments. The most effective immediate mitigation involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing scripts and forms within the SharePoint platform. This includes deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, as well as implementing content security policies that prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary features and services that may expose additional attack surfaces, while implementing strict access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect suspicious activities. The remediation process should include comprehensive patching of the affected SharePoint Portal Server 2001 installations, as Microsoft released specific security updates to address these vulnerabilities. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators and users can help identify potential attack attempts and reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation through social engineering approaches. These measures align with the attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category for initial access through social engineering, ensuring that organizations have both technical and procedural defenses against these persistent threats.