CVE-2005-0049 in SharePoint Team Services
Summary
by MITRE
Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Team Services for Windows Server 2003 does not properly validate an HTTP redirection query, which allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack, or to spoof the web cache.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0049 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Team Services running on Windows Server 2003 platforms. This flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the HTTP redirection handling process, creating an exploitable vector that adversaries can leverage to compromise user sessions and manipulate web content. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of SharePoint that were prevalent during the early 2000s, when web content management systems were rapidly evolving and security considerations were still maturing within enterprise environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the SharePoint service processes HTTP redirection requests without properly sanitizing or validating user-supplied input parameters. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing crafted HTML content or JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they navigate to affected SharePoint pages. This occurs because the system fails to implement proper output encoding or validation of redirection targets, allowing malicious payloads to be injected into the redirection mechanism. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web server's handling of HTTP redirect responses, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where users frequently interact with shared documents and web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-0049 extends beyond simple XSS execution to encompass broader security implications including web cache poisoning and session hijacking. When successful, attackers can inject malicious scripts that persist in the SharePoint environment and affect multiple users who subsequently access compromised pages. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform session fixation attacks, steal authentication cookies, and redirect users to malicious sites that can harvest sensitive information. The web cache spoofing capability means that legitimate users may receive cached malicious content, potentially compromising entire organizational networks. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that has been consistently identified as a primary attack vector in enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate patching requirements and broader architectural security improvements. Microsoft released security updates that corrected the input validation mechanisms in affected SharePoint versions, requiring organizations to apply these patches promptly to remediate the vulnerability. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper web application firewalls and content filtering mechanisms to detect and block malicious redirection attempts. The implementation of proper input validation, output encoding, and secure redirection practices should be enforced throughout the SharePoint environment. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to educate users about recognizing potentially malicious redirects and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unusual redirection patterns in web traffic. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls, aligning with ATT&CK techniques categorized under T1566 for Phishing and T1071 for Application Layer Protocol usage, which emphasize the need for robust web application security measures in enterprise environments.