CVE-2022-24472 in SharePoint Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2022
Microsoft SharePoint Server Spoofing Vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2022
Microsoft SharePoint Server contains a spoofing vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate user interface elements and potentially deceive users into performing unintended actions. This vulnerability specifically affects the way SharePoint handles certain user interface components and can be exploited to present misleading information to authenticated users. The flaw resides in the server-side rendering logic that processes user interface elements, potentially allowing malicious actors to inject deceptive content that appears legitimate to end users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user interface elements within SharePoint Server's rendering pipeline. When SharePoint processes certain web parts or interface components, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the content being displayed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the visual presentation of web pages. This weakness is particularly concerning because it operates at the presentation layer where users interact directly with the application, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content without proper security controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability can lead to several serious security implications including credential theft through phishing attacks, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential escalation of privileges within the SharePoint environment. Attackers can exploit this flaw to create convincing fake login pages or misleading administrative interfaces that trick users into revealing their credentials or performing malicious actions. The impact extends beyond simple deception as it can enable attackers to manipulate user sessions and potentially gain access to restricted SharePoint resources that would otherwise require proper authentication.
Organizations using Microsoft SharePoint Server should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Microsoft, implementing strict content validation controls, and monitoring user interface elements for unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which addresses cross-site scripting flaws and CWE-352 which covers cross-site request forgery issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 which covers phishing techniques and T1078 which addresses valid accounts usage. Additional protective measures should include implementing strict browser security policies, enabling security headers, and conducting regular security assessments of SharePoint web parts and user interface components to identify potential manipulation points.
The long-term remediation strategy should involve comprehensive security training for SharePoint administrators and end users, implementation of security monitoring solutions that can detect unusual UI modifications, and regular security audits of SharePoint configurations. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls specifically configured to detect and prevent spoofing attacks targeting SharePoint environments. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional attack vectors that may exploit similar weaknesses in SharePoint's user interface rendering mechanisms.