CVE-2018-0909 in SharePoint Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Project Server 2013 SP1 and Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 allow an elevation of privilege vulnerability to due how specially crafted web requests are sanitized, aka "Microsoft SharePoint Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability". This CVE is unique from CVE-2018-0910, CVE-2018-0911, CVE-2018-0912, CVE-2018-0913, CVE-2018-0914, CVE-2018-0915, CVE-2018-0916, CVE-2018-0917, CVE-2018-0921, CVE-2018-0923, CVE-2018-0944 and CVE-2018-0947.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0909 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw affecting Microsoft Project Server 2013 SP1 and Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 environments. This security weakness stems from inadequate sanitization of specially crafted web requests within the affected Microsoft products, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges within the targeted systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web request processing mechanisms that are responsible for handling user input and ensuring proper validation of incoming data. Organizations utilizing these Microsoft server products face significant risk as attackers can exploit this flaw to gain higher-level access rights than initially granted to their accounts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and sanitization, which aligns with CWE-20, the weakness associated with improper input validation. The flaw manifests when the affected Microsoft servers fail to properly sanitize web requests containing malicious payloads, allowing attackers to inject crafted data that bypasses normal security controls. This improper sanitization process creates a condition where specially crafted web requests can be processed without adequate validation, potentially enabling unauthorized access to system resources or administrative functions. The vulnerability's classification as an elevation of privilege issue indicates that successful exploitation would allow attackers to perform actions that require higher privilege levels than their current access permits.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial threat to enterprise security infrastructure as it enables attackers to move laterally within affected networks and potentially gain administrative control over SharePoint and Project Server environments. The exploitation of this flaw could result in unauthorized data access, modification of critical business information, or complete system compromise depending on the attacker's objectives and the specific environment configuration. Organizations that rely on these Microsoft server products for project management and enterprise collaboration face heightened risk of data breaches and operational disruption. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate system compromise as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates and patches released to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring of web traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while implementing proper access controls and privilege management can limit the potential damage from successful attacks. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running the affected software versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for administrators and security personnel remains crucial for early detection and response to potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.