CVE-2013-0084 in SharePoint Server
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 SP1 and SharePoint Foundation 2010 SP1 allows remote attackers to bypass intended read restrictions for content, and hijack user accounts, via a crafted URL, aka "SharePoint Directory Traversal Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2021
The CVE-2013-0084 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 SP1 and SharePoint Foundation 2010 SP1 environments. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied URLs before processing them within the SharePoint framework. The flaw specifically affects the way the system handles file path references, allowing malicious actors to manipulate directory navigation sequences that should be restricted by access controls. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-22 as a Directory Traversal Attack, which falls within the broader category of path traversal vulnerabilities that have been consistently identified as high-risk security flaws across multiple platforms and applications. The attack vector leverages crafted URLs that exploit the lack of proper path validation, enabling unauthorized access to restricted content that should be protected by SharePoint's security model.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious URL that contains directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that bypass the intended access controls. SharePoint's file system access mechanisms fail to properly validate these sequences, allowing attackers to navigate to files and directories outside the intended scope of user access. This can result in the disclosure of sensitive information stored within SharePoint repositories, including but not limited to user credentials, configuration files, and business-critical documents. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the file system level, where it can access content that is normally protected by SharePoint's built-in security mechanisms and user permission models. The exploitation process typically involves constructing URLs that leverage the vulnerability to access files in the SharePoint installation directory structure, potentially leading to full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0084 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for account hijacking and privilege escalation within SharePoint environments. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can potentially access user session information, authentication tokens, and other credentials that enable them to impersonate legitimate users within the SharePoint system. This capability significantly undermines the authentication and authorization mechanisms that SharePoint relies upon to protect its content and services. The vulnerability affects organizations that have not applied the relevant security patches, leaving their SharePoint deployments susceptible to unauthorized access and potential data breaches. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can leverage compromised credentials to maintain persistent access and expand their attack surface within the network environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official Microsoft security patches released for SharePoint Server 2010 SP1 and SharePoint Foundation 2010 SP1. Network-based mitigations should include implementing URL filtering rules that block access to known malicious traversal patterns and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and prevent directory traversal attempts. The security configuration of SharePoint environments should be reviewed to ensure that default permissions are properly configured and that unnecessary file access permissions are removed. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the SharePoint infrastructure and other web applications that may be susceptible to the same class of directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include multiple layers of protection against common exploitation techniques.