CVE-2013-5059 in SharePoint Server
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 SP1 and SP2 and 2013, and Office Web Apps 2013, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted page content, aka "SharePoint Page Content Vulnerabilities."
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5059 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 SP1 and SP2, SharePoint Server 2013, and Office Web Apps 2013. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the SharePoint page rendering engine, specifically when processing crafted page content that contains malicious payloads. The flaw exists in the way these Microsoft products handle user-supplied content during page generation and rendering processes, creating an attack vector that allows remote adversaries to inject and execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring authentication or elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-74, which describes "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')", and specifically relates to CWE-94, "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')". Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed page content that includes malicious script or binary code within SharePoint web parts, HTML content, or other user-editable elements. When the affected SharePoint server processes this malicious content during page rendering, the injected code executes within the context of the web application, potentially allowing full system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal user interaction with SharePoint pages, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network monitoring.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5059 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms within the SharePoint environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware within the organization's network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely heavily on SharePoint for document management, collaboration, and web publishing, making it particularly attractive to threat actors targeting enterprise environments. Organizations with multiple SharePoint installations or those using Office Web Apps for document viewing are at heightened risk, as the attack surface expands across various Microsoft products within the same ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5059 should focus on immediate patch management, network segmentation, and enhanced input validation controls. Microsoft released security updates that address this vulnerability through patches for SharePoint Server 2010 SP1 and SP2, SharePoint Server 2013, and Office Web Apps 2013, which should be deployed immediately across all affected systems. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to detect and block malicious page content before it reaches SharePoint servers. Additionally, administrators should configure SharePoint to sanitize user input more rigorously, disable unnecessary web parts, and implement strict access controls to limit the ability of untrusted users to inject content. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1190 "Exploit Public-Facing Application", highlighting the need for both defensive and monitoring capabilities to protect against exploitation attempts.