CVE-2021-31171 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Microsoft SharePoint Information Disclosure Vulnerability was made public on May 11, 2021. This CVE affects Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019, and Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1 platforms.

Understanding CVE-2021-31171

This vulnerability is categorized as an Information Disclosure issue impacting various Microsoft SharePoint products and versions.

What is CVE-2021-31171?

The CVE-2021-31171 is an Information Disclosure vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint products, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2021-31171

This vulnerability can result in the exposure of critical information stored within affected Microsoft SharePoint systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access and misuse of data.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-31171

This section provides an insight into the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to extract sensitive information from Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019, and Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1 without proper authorization.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016: Version 16.0.0 to less than 16.0.5161.1000
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019: Version 16.0.0 to less than 16.0.10374.20000
Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1: Version 15.0.0 to less than 15.0.5345.1000

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the affected Microsoft SharePoint systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2021-31171 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Microsoft to mitigate the vulnerability in affected systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Microsoft SharePoint products to address security flaws and prevent future vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that systems are regularly updated with the latest security patches released by Microsoft to enhance system security and protect against known vulnerabilities.