CVE-2026-105720 in SharePoint
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2026
Incorrect authorization in Microsoft Office SharePoint allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as incorrect authorization within the Microsoft Office SharePoint environment represents a critical flaw in access control mechanisms that governs how user permissions are validated and enforced during request processing. This specific weakness stems from insufficient verification of authorizations before granting elevated privileges, allowing an authenticated attacker to bypass intended security restrictions. In enterprise environments where SharePoint serves as a central hub for document management, collaboration, and intranet services, such flaws can have severe consequences because they undermine the fundamental principle that users should only access resources necessary for their specific roles. The flaw typically manifests when the application fails to properly validate session tokens or permission levels associated with incoming requests, effectively allowing an attacker who has already obtained valid credentials to manipulate these parameters and escalate their rights beyond what was originally assigned by system administrators.
From a technical perspective, this issue aligns closely with CWE-269, which describes Improper Privilege Management, specifically focusing on the failure to enforce proper authorization checks during critical operations. When an attacker exploits this vulnerability, they can often transition from a standard user account to that of an administrator or gain access to sensitive data repositories that are normally restricted. This elevation of privilege is particularly dangerous because it occurs over a network, meaning remote exploitation is possible without requiring physical access to the target system or local execution privileges on the server itself. The attacker typically crafts specific HTTP requests with modified parameters that trick the SharePoint application into interpreting their lower-privileged session as having higher-level authority, thereby bypassing role-based access controls designed to segment data and functionality among different user groups.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected SharePoint farm or site collection. An attacker with elevated privileges can modify system configurations, inject malicious scripts into web parts, exfiltrate confidential documents stored within the platform, or even install backdoors that provide persistent access to the underlying infrastructure. This not only results in data breaches and loss of integrity but also poses significant risks to business continuity if critical workflows dependent on SharePoint are disrupted. Furthermore, because SharePoint often integrates with other Microsoft services such as Active Directory and Azure AD, compromising a SharePoint instance can serve as a pivot point for lateral movement within the broader network environment, amplifying the scope of the initial breach significantly.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must ensure that all security updates provided by Microsoft are applied promptly to patch known authorization flaws in their SharePoint deployments. Regular auditing of user permissions and adherence to the principle of least privilege can help limit the potential damage if such a vulnerability is exploited. Additionally, implementing robust network segmentation and monitoring for anomalous authentication patterns or unusual permission changes can aid in early detection. Security teams should also review access control lists and custom code within SharePoint solutions to ensure that authorization checks are explicitly defined and validated at every entry point where sensitive operations occur, thereby closing the gaps that allow privilege escalation attacks to succeed.