CVE-2024-49070 in SharePoint
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Microsoft SharePoint Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
Microsoft SharePoint represents a critical collaboration platform widely deployed across enterprise environments for document management, workflow automation, and team collaboration services. The remote code execution vulnerability within SharePoint systems poses an severe threat to organizational security infrastructure as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected servers without requiring authentication. This vulnerability specifically affects the web application framework components of SharePoint that handle user input processing and rendering of content within the platform's interface.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of user-supplied data within SharePoint's rendering pipeline, particularly affecting how the platform processes specially crafted input in web parts, list views, or document properties. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious code into SharePoint objects that are subsequently rendered to users or processed by server-side components. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of input parameters that flow through the application's request handling mechanisms, creating an injection point where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable instructions rather than benign content.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass complete system takeover capabilities for threat actors. Successful exploitation enables attackers to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges within the SharePoint environment, and potentially move laterally across the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects multiple SharePoint versions including SharePoint Server 2016, SharePoint Server 2019, and SharePoint Online environments, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread adoption of these platforms. Organizations utilizing SharePoint for sensitive document repositories or business-critical workflows face heightened risk of intellectual property theft, regulatory compliance violations, and operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate implementation of Microsoft security patches and updates to address the identified vulnerability. Network segmentation and perimeter controls can help limit lateral movement opportunities for attackers who gain initial access through exploitation. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous behavior in SharePoint web applications, including unusual file uploads, unauthorized configuration changes, or unexpected network connections from SharePoint servers. Implementation of web application firewalls and input validation controls provides additional defense layers against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their SharePoint environments to identify potential attack vectors and ensure proper access controls are in place. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and CWE-119 (Buffer Overflow) classifications, while the exploitation techniques correspond to ATT&CK tactics including TA0002 (Execution) and TA0003 (Persistence). Regular security training for administrators and developers regarding secure coding practices remains essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities in custom SharePoint solutions.