CVE-2024-38094 is a critical deserialization vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint that allows attackers to achieve remote code execution (RCE). Exploiting this vulnerability could permit unauthorized users to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially compromising data integrity, confidentiality, and system availability. Microsoft has issued a fix for this vulnerability and released guidance to mitigate potential attacks.
This vulnerability impacts several versions of Microsoft SharePoint Server:
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019
Microsoft SharePoint Server Subscription Edition
Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016
The fix for these affected versions is available externally, and users are encouraged to follow Microsoft’s recommendations to secure their systems.
CVE-2024-38094 is classified as a deserialization vulnerability, a common security issue in web applications. In this case, a flaw in how Microsoft SharePoint processes certain serialized objects opens the door to RCE. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker could use specially crafted data to deserialize and execute malicious code within the SharePoint server context. This type of vulnerability can lead to significant control over the compromised system, allowing attackers to perform unauthorized actions such as reading, modifying, or deleting sensitive data.
To address CVE-2024-38094, Microsoft has released external patches and updates. Affected SharePoint users are advised to apply these updates to their systems promptly. The steps include:
Applying Updates : Administrators should install the patches available on the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) update guide.
Follow Vendor Instructions : Microsoft provides detailed mitigation steps to minimize the vulnerability's impact until patches can be applied. This may include disabling certain features or tightening access controls.
Discontinue Product Use if Necessary : If mitigations are unavailable or patches cannot be applied, discontinuing use of affected SharePoint products may be necessary until a secure configuration is possible.
Recommendations for Users Given the critical nature of CVE-2024-38094, it is essential for SharePoint administrators and IT teams to:
Regularly update SharePoint to the latest patches and updates.
Limit access to SharePoint servers to only trusted users and networks.
Regularly back up SharePoint data and test restoration processes to maintain data integrity in the event of an attack.
Monitor system logs for any unusual activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.
For more details on the updates and specific patching steps, refer to Microsoft’s official update guide linked above.
Credit This vulnerability was identified and reported by Microsoft Security at secure@microsoft.com.
