CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2020-16952 — Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server security vulnerability

High CVSS 8.6

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft SharePoint when the software fails to check the source markup of an application package. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the SharePoint application pool and the SharePoint server farm account.</p> <p>Exploitation of this vulnerability requires that a user uploads a specially crafted SharePoint application package to an affected version of SharePoint.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how SharePoint checks the source markup of application packages.</p>

Severity
High
CVSS
8.6 (3.1)
Published
2020-10-16
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
windows/system
Weaknesses
CWE-346

Affected products

  • microsoft / sharepoint_enterprise_server / 2016
  • microsoft / sharepoint_foundation / 2013
  • microsoft / sharepoint_server / 2019

Matched remediation archetype

Command, code, expression, and template injection

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Check exposure

  • Trace untrusted values to process execution, interpreters, evaluators, template engines, dynamic imports, and administrative scripting features.
  • Determine whether the affected path is reachable across each trust boundary and which service account or host privilege it inherits.
  • Review configuration for optional execution features, unsafe compatibility modes, and shell invocation.

Remediate safely

  • Replace string-built commands or evaluated code with fixed operations and structured argument APIs that do not invoke a shell.
  • Use strict allowlists for operation identifiers and reject unexpected input before it reaches any interpreter.
  • Update the affected component and add inert regression tests covering metacharacters, encoding variants, and alternate request paths.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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