CVE-2018-8480 in SharePoint Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Microsoft SharePoint Server does not properly sanitize a specially crafted web request to an affected SharePoint server, aka "Microsoft SharePoint Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft SharePoint. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8488, CVE-2018-8498, CVE-2018-8518.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8480 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Microsoft SharePoint Server that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms. This security weakness specifically manifests when the affected SharePoint server fails to properly sanitize web requests containing maliciously crafted payloads, allowing unauthorized users to escalate their privileges and gain elevated access rights within the system. The vulnerability resides in the server's request processing logic where insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially execute arbitrary code with higher privileges than initially granted.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting specially formatted web requests that bypass the normal input validation procedures implemented by SharePoint Server. When these malformed requests are processed, the system's inadequate sanitization routines fail to properly filter or escape malicious content, enabling attackers to inject unauthorized commands or manipulate the application's access control mechanisms. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets SharePoint Server's web request handling capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in environments where SharePoint serves as a central collaboration and document management platform. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially allow full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on SharePoint Server for business operations and document management. The elevated privileges gained through exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive corporate data, modify or delete critical documents, manipulate user permissions, and potentially establish persistent access to the affected systems. The vulnerability affects Microsoft SharePoint Server versions that do not properly implement input sanitization controls, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where SharePoint is extensively used for collaboration and information sharing. Organizations may experience data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions when this vulnerability is successfully exploited.
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 SharePoint server traffic can help detect anomalous request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected SharePoint Server versions and ensure proper input validation is implemented across all web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and corresponds to attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation categories. Regular security awareness training for administrators and developers can help prevent improper implementation of security controls that might contribute to similar vulnerabilities in the future.