CVE-2013-1289 in SharePoint Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 SP1, Groove Server 2010 SP1, SharePoint Foundation 2010 SP1, and Office Web Apps 2010 SP1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted string, aka "HTML Sanitization Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1289 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Microsoft's SharePoint and Office Web Apps ecosystem. This weakness manifests in multiple Microsoft products including SharePoint Server 2010 SP1, Groove Server 2010 SP1, SharePoint Foundation 2010 SP1, and Office Web Apps 2010 SP1, creating a widespread security risk across enterprise collaboration platforms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate HTML sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly validate and filter user-supplied input before rendering it within web interfaces.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the affected systems process user-provided strings without sufficient sanitization controls, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. This occurs because the HTML sanitization routines fail to adequately strip or encode potentially dangerous elements such as script tags, event handlers, or other malicious code patterns. The vulnerability specifically targets the way these Microsoft products handle input validation during content rendering processes, creating an attack vector where remote adversaries can manipulate web interfaces through crafted malicious strings.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing affected Microsoft products, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that SharePoint and Office Web Apps are widely deployed for enterprise collaboration, document management, and web-based productivity services. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or the deployment of additional malware within the victim's browser environment. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or encoding, allowing malicious scripts to be executed. This weakness is further categorized under the ATT&CK framework as part of the T1566 technique for Initial Access through spearphishing attachments or links, where the XSS vulnerability serves as a vector for delivering malicious payloads. Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching of affected systems, deployment of web application firewalls, enhanced input validation controls, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security awareness training for users can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation.
Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates that improved HTML sanitization mechanisms and enhanced input validation controls within the affected products. The fix specifically targeted the sanitization routines that were previously insufficient to prevent the injection of malicious scripts and HTML content. Organizations should ensure that all affected systems receive these security updates promptly and verify that the patches have been successfully applied to prevent potential exploitation. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and sanitization in web applications, particularly in enterprise collaboration platforms where user-generated content is prevalent and security controls must be robust against sophisticated attack vectors.