CVE-2018-0790 in SharePoint Server
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 allow an elevation of privilege vulnerability due to the way web requests are handled, aka "Microsoft SharePoint Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability". This CVE is unique from CVE-2018-0789.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The Microsoft SharePoint Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0790 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft SharePoint infrastructure including SharePoint Foundation 2010, SharePoint Server 2013, and SharePoint Server 2016. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of web requests within the SharePoint framework, creating an exploitable condition that allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges beyond their intended access levels. The flaw specifically manifests in how the system processes incoming web requests and validates user permissions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain higher-level access rights than initially granted. Unlike CVE-2018-0789 which addresses a different aspect of SharePoint security, this vulnerability focuses explicitly on the privilege escalation mechanism within the web request processing pipeline.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits weaknesses in SharePoint's authentication and authorization mechanisms during web request processing. When users submit requests to SharePoint servers, the system's handling of these requests contains a flaw that permits certain authenticated users to manipulate their access context and gain elevated privileges. This typically occurs through crafted web requests that exploit the way SharePoint validates user credentials and permissions, potentially allowing users to access restricted resources, perform administrative functions, or access data they should not normally be able to reach. The vulnerability essentially bypasses the normal security boundaries that separate different user roles and access levels within the SharePoint environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0790 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating significant risks for organizations relying on SharePoint infrastructure. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain access to sensitive corporate data, modify or delete critical information, and potentially establish persistent access within the network. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations with complex SharePoint deployments where multiple user roles and permission levels exist, as it provides a mechanism for users to bypass these carefully configured security controls. The elevated privileges gained through this vulnerability could allow attackers to impersonate administrators, access confidential documents, modify SharePoint configurations, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates and patches released to address the specific flaw. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management, and represents a classic example of how web application request handling can create security gaps when proper input validation and access control checks are not properly implemented. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious web request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege configurations should be reviewed and strengthened to limit potential damage if exploitation occurs. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of application flaws to gain elevated system access, making it particularly relevant for organizations implementing comprehensive threat hunting and incident response procedures.