CVE-2018-8572 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 Server, Microsoft SharePoint. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8568.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8572 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Microsoft SharePoint Server environments, specifically targeting the server's handling of web requests. This vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of input data within the SharePoint server's request processing pipeline, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to elevated system resources. The flaw exists in the way SharePoint Server validates and processes specially crafted web requests, allowing attackers to manipulate server behavior through carefully constructed input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as the underlying weakness. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious web requests that bypass normal security controls, potentially allowing them to execute code with higher privileges than initially granted. The vulnerability specifically affects Microsoft SharePoint Server versions where the web request handling mechanism fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input, creating a vector for privilege escalation attacks that could ultimately lead to complete system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on SharePoint Server for document management and collaboration services. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain administrative privileges on the SharePoint server, potentially allowing them to access sensitive corporate data, modify or delete critical documents, and establish persistent access points within the network. The attack surface is particularly concerning given SharePoint's widespread use in enterprise environments where it often serves as a central repository for sensitive business information and serves as a potential stepping stone for broader network infiltration attempts.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-8572 aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation category, specifically targeting the use of application vulnerabilities to gain higher system privileges. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain that could lead to data exfiltration, lateral movement, and persistent threat presence within affected networks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to SharePoint servers, and monitoring for suspicious web request patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.
Microsoft has addressed this vulnerability through security updates that enhance the sanitization of web requests within SharePoint Server's processing pipeline. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment and implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls, input validation mechanisms, and regular security assessments to reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when server-side request handling fails to adequately sanitize user input, potentially leading to severe privilege escalation scenarios that could compromise entire enterprise environments.