CVE-2020-16872 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) is affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability that could allow an authenticated attacker to execute malicious scripts on affected systems. This CVE was published on September 11, 2020, with a CVSS base score of 7.6.

Understanding CVE-2020-16872

What is CVE-2020-16872?

A cross-site scripting vulnerability in Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) allows attackers to execute scripts in the security context of authenticated users, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and data exposure.

The Impact of CVE-2020-16872

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to perform various malicious activities, including reading unauthorized content, impersonating users to manipulate permissions, and injecting harmful content into users' browsers.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-16872

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from inadequate sanitization of web requests to affected Dynamics servers, enabling attackers to send specially crafted requests to execute cross-site scripting attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Microsoft
Product: Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) version 9.0
Platforms: Unknown
Versions Affected: 9.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests to affected Dynamics servers, allowing them to run scripts in the context of authenticated users and perform malicious actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by Microsoft to ensure proper sanitization of web requests in Dynamics Server.
Educate users about the risks of executing scripts from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Microsoft Dynamics 365 to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement web application firewalls and security controls to detect and prevent cross-site scripting attacks.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Ensure prompt installation of the update to protect Dynamics 365 (on-premises) environments.