CVE-2007-2581 in Windows SharePoint Services
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 for Windows Server 2003 and Office SharePoint Server 2007 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO (query string) in "every main page," as demonstrated by default.aspx.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2581 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Office SharePoint Server 2007 implementations on Windows Server 2003 systems. This vulnerability resides in the handling of PATH_INFO parameters within the query string of web requests, specifically impacting every main page of the SharePoint environment including the default.aspx page. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, fundamentally compromising the security of the SharePoint platform.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within SharePoint's web application framework. When the system processes incoming requests containing PATH_INFO parameters, it fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's response, executing in the browser context of authenticated users. The vulnerability's scope is particularly concerning as it affects "every main page" of the SharePoint application, indicating a systemic flaw rather than an isolated component issue. The PATH_INFO parameter manipulation specifically targets the way SharePoint processes URL segments, making it difficult to mitigate through traditional input filtering approaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating significant risks for enterprise environments that rely on SharePoint for collaboration and document management. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from the SharePoint environment. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is amplified in environments where users have elevated privileges or where SharePoint is integrated with other enterprise systems. The fact that it affects default.aspx and other main pages means that even casual browsing could expose users to malicious code execution, making this a particularly dangerous flaw for widespread exploitation.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique for code injection and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the XSS vulnerability to gain access to user sessions and potentially escalate their privileges within the SharePoint environment. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and ensuring that SharePoint systems are properly patched and updated. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and disabling unnecessary URL parameters to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability underscores the importance of comprehensive security testing and the need for robust input sanitization practices in enterprise web applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data and user credentials.