📄 Description (English)
Improper neutralization of special elements used in an sql command ('sql injection') in Microsoft Office SharePoint allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
A critical SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2026-20947) in Microsoft SharePoint Server allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely with a CVSS score of 8.8. This vulnerability affects SharePoint Server 2016, 2019, and subscription versions, posing significant risk to Saudi organizations heavily reliant on SharePoint for document management and collaboration. Immediate patching is essential as the vulnerability requires only valid user credentials to exploit.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 22, 2026 14:32
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses severe risk to Saudi government entities (NCA, ARAMCO, SABIC), banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions, major banks), healthcare organizations (MOH), and telecommunications providers (STC, Mobily). SharePoint is extensively deployed across Saudi enterprises for document management, intranet portals, and collaborative workflows. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, intellectual property theft, financial system compromise, and critical infrastructure disruption. Government and financial institutions are particularly vulnerable due to sensitive data stored in SharePoint repositories.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Manufacturing
Education
Retail and E-commerce
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1199 - Trusted Relationship
T1078 - Valid Accounts
T1566 - Phishing
T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1047 - Windows Management Instrumentation
T1021 - Remote Service Session Initiation
T1040 - Network Sniffing
T1005 - Data from Local System
T1213 - Data from Information Repositories
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.5
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all SharePoint Server instances (2016, 2019, subscription versions) in your environment
2. Restrict SharePoint access to trusted networks only using firewall rules
3. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all SharePoint user accounts
4. Review and audit recent SharePoint user activities and database queries for suspicious patterns
5. Monitor SQL Server logs for unusual query execution
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Apply Microsoft security patches immediately upon availability
2. Test patches in non-production environments first
3. Prioritize patching for internet-facing SharePoint instances
4. Schedule patching during maintenance windows to minimize business disruption
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patch unavailable):
1. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns
2. Apply principle of least privilege to SharePoint service accounts
3. Disable unnecessary SharePoint features and web services
4. Implement database activity monitoring (DAM) solutions
5. Use SQL Server parameterized queries and stored procedures exclusively
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for SQL error messages in SharePoint logs containing unusual syntax
2. Alert on database connections from unexpected SharePoint service accounts
3. Track modifications to SharePoint content databases outside normal operations
4. Monitor for encoded SQL injection payloads in HTTP requests (UNION, SELECT, DROP keywords)
5. Implement SIEM rules for failed authentication attempts followed by successful access
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع مثيلات خادم SharePoint (2016، 2019، الإصدارات المشتركة) في بيئتك
2. تقييد الوصول إلى SharePoint للشبكات الموثوقة فقط باستخدام قواعد جدار الحماية
3. تنفيذ المصادقة متعددة العوامل (MFA) لجميع حسابات مستخدمي SharePoint
4. مراجعة وتدقيق أنشطة مستخدمي SharePoint الأخيرة والاستعلامات قاعدة البيانات عن الأنماط المريبة
5. مراقبة سجلات SQL Server للتنفيذ غير المعتاد للاستعلامات
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تطبيق تصحيحات أمان Microsoft فوراً عند توفرها
2. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج أولاً
3. إعطاء الأولوية لتصحيح مثيلات SharePoint المواجهة للإنترنت
4. جدولة التصحيح خلال نوافذ الصيانة لتقليل انقطاع الأعمال
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح متاحاً):
1. تنفيذ قواعد جدار تطبيقات الويب (WAF) للكشف عن أنماط حقن SQL
2. تطبيق مبدأ أقل امتياز على حسابات خدمة SharePoint
3. تعطيل ميزات SharePoint والخدمات الويب غير الضرورية
4. تنفيذ حلول مراقبة نشاط قاعدة البيانات (DAM)
5. استخدام استعلامات SQL المعاملة وإجراءات مخزنة حصرياً
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة رسائل خطأ SQL في سجلات SharePoint التي تحتوي على بناء جملة غير عادي
2. التنبيه على اتصالات قاعدة البيانات من حسابات خدمة SharePoint غير المتوقعة
3. تتبع التعديلات على قواعد بيانات محتوى SharePoint خارج العمليات العادية
4. مراقبة حمولات حقن SQL المشفرة في طلبات HTTP (UNION، SELECT، DROP)
5. تنفيذ قواعد SIEM لمحاولات المصادقة الفاشلة متبوعة بالوصول الناجح
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies and Procedures
A.6.1.1 - Access Control Policy
A.6.2.1 - User Registration and De-registration
A.6.2.2 - User Access Rights
A.8.2.1 - Classification of Information
A.8.2.3 - Handling of Assets
A.9.1.1 - Access Control
A.9.2.1 - User Responsibility
A.9.2.5 - Access Rights Review
A.12.2.1 - Event Logging
A.12.2.4 - Protection of Log Information
A.14.2.1 - Secure Development Policy
A.14.2.5 - Secure Development Environment
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance and Risk Management - GRM-01: Information Security Governance
Governance and Risk Management - GRM-02: Risk Assessment and Management
Access Control and Identity Management - AC-01: Access Control Policy
Access Control and Identity Management - AC-02: User Access Management
Data Protection and Privacy - DP-01: Data Classification
Data Protection and Privacy - DP-02: Data Protection Controls
Monitoring and Incident Management - MI-01: Security Monitoring
Monitoring and Incident Management - MI-02: Incident Response
Application Security - AS-01: Secure Development
Application Security - AS-02: Application Security Testing
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
5.1 - Policies for information security
5.2 - Information security roles and responsibilities
6.1 - Screening
6.2 - Terms and conditions of employment
6.5 - Access rights review
7.1 - Business requirements of access control
7.2 - User registration and de-registration
7.3 - User access provisioning
8.1 - User endpoint devices
8.2 - Privileged access rights
8.3 - Information access restriction
8.22 - Monitoring of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities
8.23 - Web filtering
8.24 - Use of cryptography
8.28 - Secure coding
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
Requirement 1 - Install and maintain a firewall configuration
Requirement 2 - Do not use vendor-supplied defaults
Requirement 6 - Develop and maintain secure systems and applications
Requirement 6.5.1 - Injection flaws prevention
Requirement 7 - Restrict access to data by business need to know
Requirement 8 - Identify and authenticate access to system components
Requirement 10 - Track and monitor all access to network resources
📦 Affected Products / CPE 3 entries
microsoft:sharepoint_server
microsoft:sharepoint_server:2016
microsoft:sharepoint_server:2019