📄 Description (English)
Microsoft SharePoint Server Privilege Escalation Vulnerability — Microsoft SharePoint Server contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated attacker, who has gained access to spoofed JWT authentication tokens, to use them for executing a network attack. This attack bypasses authentication, enabling the attacker to gain administrator privileges.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2023-29357 is a critical privilege escalation vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint Server (CVSS 9.0) that allows unauthenticated attackers with spoofed JWT tokens to bypass authentication and gain administrator privileges. With public exploits available, this poses an immediate threat to organizations using SharePoint for document management and collaboration. Immediate patching is essential as the vulnerability enables complete compromise of SharePoint infrastructure and sensitive data access.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 19, 2026 03:32
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses critical risk to Saudi government entities (NCA, CITC), SAMA-regulated financial institutions, and major enterprises using SharePoint for sensitive document management. Saudi banks and financial services firms are particularly vulnerable as they rely heavily on SharePoint for internal collaboration and document control. Government agencies managing classified information and healthcare organizations storing patient records face severe data breach risks. Energy sector organizations (ARAMCO, utilities) and telecommunications providers (STC, Mobily) using SharePoint for operational data are also at high risk of complete infrastructure compromise.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Education
Large Enterprises
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1078 - Valid Accounts (privilege escalation via compromised credentials)
T1550.001 - Use Alternate Authentication Material: Application Access Token
T1134.005 - Access Token Manipulation: Token Impersonation/Theft
T1548.002 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Bypass User Account Control
T1556 - Modify Authentication Process
T1110 - Brute Force (credential-based attacks)
T1087 - Account Discovery
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Apply Microsoft security patches immediately to all SharePoint Server instances (2019, 2016, 2013 versions as applicable)
2. Disable SharePoint services temporarily if patching cannot be completed within 24 hours
3. Implement network segmentation to restrict SharePoint access to authorized networks only
4. Revoke and regenerate all JWT tokens and authentication credentials
5. Force re-authentication for all active SharePoint sessions
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
- Download latest cumulative updates from Microsoft Security Updates
- Test patches in non-production environment first
- Schedule maintenance windows for production deployment
- Verify patch installation with Microsoft's verification tools
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching delayed):
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious JWT patterns
- Enable enhanced logging for all SharePoint authentication attempts
- Deploy intrusion detection signatures for CVE-2023-29357 exploitation attempts
- Restrict SharePoint access via IP whitelisting to known corporate networks
- Monitor for unusual privilege escalation activities in SharePoint audit logs
DETECTION RULES:
- Alert on failed authentication followed by successful admin-level operations
- Monitor for JWT token validation failures and subsequent access grants
- Track unusual administrative actions from non-administrative user accounts
- Log all authentication bypass attempts in SharePoint ULS logs
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تطبيق تصحيحات أمان Microsoft على جميع خوادم SharePoint فوراً (الإصدارات 2019 و2016 و2013)
2. تعطيل خدمات SharePoint مؤقتاً إذا لم يتم التصحيح خلال 24 ساعة
3. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لتقييد الوصول إلى الشبكات المصرح بها فقط
4. إلغاء وإعادة توليد جميع رموز JWT بيانات الاعتماد
5. فرض إعادة المصادقة لجميع جلسات SharePoint النشطة
إرشادات التصحيح:
- تحميل أحدث التحديثات التراكمية من Microsoft
- اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً
- جدولة نوافذ الصيانة لنشر الإنتاج
- التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح باستخدام أدوات Microsoft
الضوابط البديلة:
- تنفيذ قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب لحجب أنماط JWT المريبة
- تفعيل السجلات المحسنة لجميع محاولات المصادقة
- نشر توقيعات الكشف عن الاستغلال
- تقييد الوصول عبر القائمة البيضاء للعناوين
- مراقبة الأنشطة الإدارية غير العادية
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.9.2.1 - User access management and authentication controls
ECC 2024 A.9.4.3 - Password management and credential security
ECC 2024 A.12.4.1 - Event logging and monitoring
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-2 - Software and hardware asset management
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access control policy and procedures
SAMA CSF PR.AC-6 - Authentication and authorization mechanisms
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - Detection and analysis of anomalies
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.15 - Access control
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2 - User endpoint devices
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.3 - Privileged access rights
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities and exposures
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
PCI DSS 2.1 - Change default passwords
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security patches installation
PCI DSS 7.1 - Limit access to system components
PCI DSS 10.2 - Implement automated audit trails
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Microsoft:SharePoint Server