Microsoft SharePoint Reflective XSS Vulnerability
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Cross-site scripting
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-79.
Summary
<p>This vulnerability is caused when SharePoint Server does not properly sanitize a specially crafted request to an affected SharePoint server.</p> <p>An authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to an affected SharePoint server. The attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could then perform cross-site scripting attacks on affected systems and run script in the security context of the current user. These attacks could allow the attacker to read content that the attacker is not authorized to read, use the victim's identity to take actions on the SharePoint site on behalf of the victim, such as change permissions, delete content, steal sensitive information (such as browser cookies) and inject malicious content in the browser of the victim.</p> <p>For this vulnerability to be exploited, a user must click a specially crafted URL that takes the user to a targeted SharePoint Web App site.</p> <p>In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending an email message containing the specially crafted URL to the user of the targeted SharePoint Web App site and convincing the user to click the specially crafted URL.</p> <p>In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker would have to host a website that contains a specially crafted URL to the targeted SharePoint Web App site that is used to attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities. In addition, compromised websites and websites that accept or host user-provided content could contain specially crafted content that could exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit a specially crafted website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince them to visit the website, typically by getting them to click a link in an instant messenger or email message that takes them to the attacker's website, and then convince them to click the specially crafted URL.</p> <p>The security update addresses the vulnerability by helping to ensure that SharePoint Server properly sanitizes user web requests.</p>
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 | 16.0.0 to before publication | publication | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 | 16.0.0 to before publication | publication | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1 | 15.0.0 to before publication | publication | Patch available | CNA |
- Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
- Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
- Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1 VendorMicrosoft Affected 15.0.0 to before publication Fixed in publication Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
- Fix · CNA Microsoft SharePoint Server 2019 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
- Fix · CNA Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Service Pack 1 (Microsoft) Fixed in publication
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-16944
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-879j-7rrf-6xvm
More Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-00394 Improper input validation in Microsoft SharePoint Server KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-01112 A remote code execution vulnerability exists in .NET Framework, Microsoft SharePoint, and… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2017-08774 Memory corruption in Microsoft Office KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-10439 Microsoft SharePoint Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.2
- TI-2023-08100 Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-31676 Microsoft SharePoint Server Spoofing Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
Sources
- CVE-2020-16944 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-16944 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-879j-7rrf-6xvm · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences