CVE-2013-1290 in SharePoint Server
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013, in certain configurations involving legacy My Sites, does not properly establish default access controls for a SharePoint list, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended restrictions on reading list items via a direct request for a list s location, aka "Incorrect Access Rights Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
This vulnerability exists in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 where improper default access control configuration occurs within legacy My Sites environments. The flaw manifests when SharePoint lists are created without proper security initialization, allowing authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions through direct requests to list locations. The vulnerability specifically affects scenarios where legacy My Sites functionality is enabled, creating a path for unauthorized information disclosure. This represents a critical security weakness in Microsoft's access control implementation that undermines the fundamental security model of the platform.
The technical exploitation occurs when users with minimal privileges can directly request list locations without proper authentication checks. This allows attackers to access list items that should be restricted to specific user groups or roles. The vulnerability stems from SharePoint's failure to properly initialize default access control lists for newly created lists in legacy My Sites configurations. When lists are created through the My Sites functionality, the system does not automatically establish proper security boundaries, leaving these resources accessible to any authenticated user who knows or can guess the list URL structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data stored in SharePoint lists. Attackers can systematically enumerate list locations and access content that should remain confidential, potentially exposing personal information, business data, or proprietary documents. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on My Sites for employee collaboration and document sharing, as it undermines the trust model that SharePoint establishes for user-specific content access. The issue can persist across multiple list items and can be systematically exploited without requiring elevated privileges beyond basic authentication.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including reviewing and hardening default access control configurations for My Sites environments, implementing proper list security initialization procedures, and conducting comprehensive audits of existing list access controls. Microsoft recommends applying the relevant security updates and patches as soon as they become available. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically related to improper access control enforcement, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts for lateral movement and information gathering activities. Regular security assessments should focus on identifying and correcting default configuration weaknesses in SharePoint environments, particularly those involving user-generated content and collaboration features.