CVE-2020-16944 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2020-16944 article provides insights into a Reflective Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Microsoft SharePoint servers.

Understanding CVE-2020-16944

What is CVE-2020-16944?

This vulnerability arises from inadequate sanitization of requests to SharePoint servers, enabling attackers to execute XSS attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2020-16944

The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to run scripts in the user's security context, potentially leading to unauthorized data access and malicious actions on SharePoint sites.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-16944

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in SharePoint Server allows attackers to conduct XSS attacks by sending crafted requests, compromising system integrity.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 (Version 16.0.0)
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 (Version 16.0.0)
Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1 (Version 15.0.0)
Platforms: x64-based Systems

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by tricking users into clicking malicious URLs, leading to XSS attacks on SharePoint Web App sites.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update to ensure proper sanitization of user web requests.

Long-Term Security Practices

Educate users on identifying and avoiding suspicious URLs to prevent XSS attacks.
Regularly update and patch SharePoint servers to mitigate security risks.