CVE-2018-0910 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-2018-0909, 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-2018-0910 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 insufficient sanitization of specially crafted web requests within the affected Microsoft products, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to escalate their privileges and gain elevated access rights. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web request processing mechanisms that are responsible for validating and handling incoming HTTP requests within the SharePoint and Project Server frameworks. Organizations utilizing these Microsoft server products face significant risk as this flaw could be exploited by malicious actors to bypass existing security controls and obtain administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of web requests that contain maliciously crafted input parameters or headers. When these specially constructed requests are processed by the vulnerable SharePoint and Project Server components, the insufficient sanitization allows certain request elements to be interpreted as legitimate administrative commands. This flaw operates at the application layer where input validation should occur, but fails to properly filter or escape potentially dangerous request data. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20, which specifically addresses "Improper Input Validation" and represents a fundamental weakness in how the affected applications process user-supplied data through web interfaces. The lack of proper request sanitization creates a condition where crafted payloads can traverse normal security boundaries and execute with elevated privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to enterprise security postures as it allows attackers to potentially escalate from standard user accounts to administrative privileges within SharePoint and Project Server environments. The exploitation of this flaw could enable unauthorized individuals to access sensitive project data, modify critical business information, manipulate user permissions, and potentially establish persistent access within the organization's Microsoft server infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain access to confidential business projects, financial data, and other sensitive information stored within Project Server environments. The impact extends beyond simple data access as the elevated privileges could enable attackers to deploy malicious code, modify system configurations, and compromise the integrity of the entire SharePoint and Project Server ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0910 should prioritize immediate application of Microsoft security patches and updates released to address this specific vulnerability. Organizations must ensure their SharePoint and Project Server environments are updated with the latest security fixes from Microsoft, particularly focusing on the web request sanitization improvements implemented in the patches. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of these critical servers to untrusted networks, while implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious web request patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and organizations should implement defensive measures such as web application firewalls and input validation controls to prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented mitigations and identify potential additional vulnerabilities within the Microsoft server environment.