Microsoft SharePoint under ‘active exploitation,’ Homeland Security’s CISA says

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Microsoft SharePoint Under “Active Exploitation,” CISA Warns

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has placed Microsoft SharePoint on its Active Exploitation list, signaling that threat actors are currently weaponizing vulnerabilities in the popular collaboration platform. In a recent advisory, CISA highlighted that adversaries are leveraging both publicly disclosed and zero‑day flaws to gain unauthorized access, exfiltrate data, and establish persistence within target networks.

Key Exploitation Vectors Identified by CISA

  • Web‑Application Vulnerabilities: Remote code execution (RCE) flaws in SharePoint’s web front‑end allow attackers to execute malicious scripts on the server.
  • Authentication Bypass: Misconfigurations and outdated authentication protocols can be abused to forge tokens or bypass libraries can trigger client‑side exploits when opened by unsuspecting users.
  • Supply‑Chain Compromise: Compromised third‑party add‑ons or custom solutions may introduce backdoors that evade standard security controls.

Immediate Mitigation patches for SharePoint, both on‑premises and cloud deployments.
  • Enforce strict least‑privilege access policies and regularly audit permission assignments.
  • Enable multi‑factor authentication (MFA) for all SharePoint and Azure AD accounts, especially for privileged users.
  • Implement file‑type restrictions and content scanning for uploads, leveraging Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps or comparable solutions.
  • Monitor for anomalous activity using Azure Sentinel, focusing on unusual file access patterns, credential‑theft indicators, and lateral movement attempts.

    • Long‑Term Security Posture Enh>

  • Zero Trust Architecture: Verify every request, enforce micro‑segmentation, and limit trust based on device health and user context.
  • Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL): Vet any custom SharePoint solutions through code reviews, static analysis, and penetration testing before deployment.
  • Regular Red‑Team Exercises: Simulate Share for Endpoint to enforce baseline configurations and flag drifts.

    • Conclusion

    The designation of Microsoft SharePoint as an “active exploitation” target by CISA underscores the evolving threat landscape that enterprises must navigate. By promptly applying patches, tightening access controls, and adopting a Zero Trust mindset, organizations can blunt the most common attack vectors. Ongoing vigilance—through monitoring, threat‑intel integration, and regular security assessments—will be essential to safeguard the critical collaboration data that SharePoint houses.

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