Latest news with #SharePointServer2016
Japan Today
6 hours ago
- Japan Today
What to know about a vulnerability being exploited on Microsoft SharePoint servers
By SHAWN CHEN Microsoft has issued an emergency fix to close off a vulnerability in Microsoft's widely-used SharePoint software that hackers have exploited to carry out widespread attacks on businesses and at least some U.S. government agencies. The company issued an alert to customers on July 19 saying it was aware of the zero-day exploit being used to conduct attacks and that it was working to patch the issue. Microsoft updated its guidance Sunday with instructions to fix the problem for SharePoint Server 2019 and SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. Engineers were still working on a fix for the older SharePoint Server 2016 software. 'Anybody who's got a hosted SharePoint server has got a problem,' said Adam Meyers, senior vice president with CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm. 'It's a significant vulnerability.' Companies and government agencies around the world use SharePoint for internal document management, data organization and collaboration. A zero-day exploit is a cyberattack that takes advantage of a previously unknown security vulnerability. "Zero-day" refers to the fact that the security engineers have had zero days to develop a fix for the vulnerability. According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the exploit affecting SharePoint is "a variant of the existing vulnerability CVE-2025-49706 and poses a risk to organizations with on-premise SharePoint servers.' Security researchers warn that the exploit, reportedly known as 'ToolShell,' is a serious one and can allow actors to fully access SharePoint file systems, including services connected to SharePoint, such as Teams and OneDrive. Google's Threat Intelligence Group warned that the vulnerability may allow bad actors to "bypass future patching.' Eye Security said in its blog post that it scanned over 8,000 SharePoint servers worldwide and discovered that at least dozens of systems were compromised. The cybersecurity company said the attacks likely began on July 18. Microsoft said the vulnerability affects only on-site SharePoint servers used within businesses or organizations, and does not affect Microsoft's cloud-based SharePoint Online service. But Michael Sikorski, CTO and Head of Threat Intelligence for Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks, warns that the exploit still leaves many potentially exposed to bad actors. 'While cloud environments remain unaffected, on-prem SharePoint deployments — particularly within government, schools, health care including hospitals, and large enterprise companies — are at immediate risk." The vulnerability targets SharePoint server software so customers of that product will want to immediately follow Microsoft's guidance to patch their on-site systems. Although the scope of the attack is still being assessed, CISA warned that the impact could be widespread and recommended that any servers impacted by the exploit should be disconnected from the internet until they are patched. 'We are urging organizations who are running on-prem SharePoint to take action immediately and apply all relevant patches now and as they become available, rotate all cryptographic material, and engage professional incident response. An immediate, band-aid fix would be to unplug your Microsoft SharePoint from the internet until a patch is available,' Sikorski advises. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability: Why MS has released a 'zero-day' urgent update and who is at risk
Microsoft has released an urgent patch for a critical "zero-day" vulnerability in its SharePoint software, after confirming that the flaw was actively exploited by hackers targeting businesses and U.S. government agencies. The company confirmed the vulnerability and issued the fix between July 19 and 20, while security agencies have advised affected organisations to disconnect unpatched servers from the internet. What is the SharePoint zero-day vulnerability? The vulnerability, found in Microsoft SharePoint, is a type of zero-day flaw. Zero-day vulnerabilities refer to unknown security issues that attackers can exploit before developers have time to release a fix. Microsoft SharePoint is widely used by organisations for internal file sharing, team collaboration, and document management. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category healthcare Data Science Finance Others Data Science Project Management others Healthcare Leadership Artificial Intelligence Public Policy Data Analytics Technology MCA Digital Marketing Product Management Degree Management CXO PGDM MBA Cybersecurity Design Thinking Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML Healthcare Management India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML Healthcare Management India Starts on undefined Get Details In an alert issued on Saturday, July 19, Microsoft confirmed that the vulnerability was already being exploited. A day later, on Sunday, July 20, the company issued guidance for applying security patches to SharePoint Server 2019 and SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. Microsoft said it was still working on a patch for SharePoint Server 2016. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Microsoft Sharepoint: Older servers still at risk Microsoft's fix currently covers only the newer versions of the software. Users of SharePoint Server 2016 will remain exposed until a patch is developed. Experts warn that any organisation running on-premise SharePoint servers should treat the situation as urgent. Adam Meyers, senior vice president at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, told the Associated Press, "Anybody who's got a hosted SharePoint server has got a problem." He added, "It's a significant vulnerability." Live Events When did the attacks begin? According to cybersecurity company Eye Security, attackers may have started exploiting the vulnerability as early as July 18. The company said it scanned over 8,000 SharePoint servers globally and found that at least dozens had been compromised. Security researchers identified the exploit as 'ToolShell,' which reportedly allows attackers full access to SharePoint file systems. Services integrated with SharePoint, such as Microsoft Teams and OneDrive, are also at risk. Google's Threat Intelligence Group warned that the flaw could even enable attackers to "bypass future patching." Government warning and recommended action The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has described the exploit as "a variant of the existing vulnerability CVE-2025-49706" and said it threatens organisations using on-premise SharePoint servers. The agency urged affected entities to take their servers offline until they are patched, warning that the impact of the breach could be widespread.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Hackers exploit SharePoint flaw to breach servers, Microsoft issues fix
Microsoft has rolled out an emergency security fix to address a serious vulnerability in its SharePoint software, which hackers are actively exploiting in cyberattacks targeting companies and US government agencies, Associated Press reported. Microsoft alerted users over the weekend, confirming that a zero-day exploit was being used and that they were working on a solution. On Sunday, the tech giant released instructions to patch the issue for SharePoint Server 2019 and SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. However, engineers are still working on a fix for the older SharePoint Server 2016. 'Anybody who's got a hosted SharePoint server has got a problem,' said Adam Meyers, senior vice president at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. 'It's a significant vulnerability.' Zero-day exploit A zero-day exploit refers to a security flaw that has just been discovered and for which there is no fix yet, giving attackers a head start before security teams can respond. According to the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), this new threat is a variant of an existing vulnerability (CVE-2025-49706). It mainly affects organisations using on-premise SharePoint servers. Cybersecurity experts have identified the exploit, dubbed 'ToolShell', which can allow attackers full access to SharePoint file systems. This may also impact other services linked to SharePoint, like Microsoft Teams and OneDrive, Associated Press reported. Google's Threat Intelligence Group has warned that this vulnerability could potentially 'bypass future patching', making it even more dangerous. Global impact and affected systems Cybersecurity company Eye Security reported scanning more than 8,000 SharePoint servers globally. Their findings showed that at least several dozen had been compromised, and the attacks started on July 18. Microsoft clarified that this vulnerability affects only on-premise SharePoint servers and not the cloud-based SharePoint Online service. However, the risk remains high, particularly for critical sectors. What should users do? Organisations using on-premise SharePoint servers are strongly urged to apply Microsoft's latest security guidance immediately. CISA has recommended that any impacted servers be taken offline until they are properly patched. Michael Sikorski, chief technology officer and head of Threat Intelligence for Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks, said, 'We are urging organisations who are running on-prem SharePoint to take action immediately and apply all relevant patches now and as they become available, rotate all cryptographic material, and engage professional incident response.' Sikorski also suggested disconnecting Microsoft SharePoint from the internet as a temporary measure until a security patch is released. CERT-In warns Microsoft users in India Last week, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) issued a high-severity warning for users of Microsoft Windows and Office products. The agency flagged multiple security flaws that could put both individuals and enterprises at risk. According to CERT-In, attackers could exploit these flaws to gain higher privileges, access sensitive data, execute remote code, and bypass security protocols. In some cases, they may also spoof identities, tamper with system settings, or trigger denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. CERT-In has urged all users and IT administrators to apply necessary patches and take additional security measures to avoid potential exploitation. [With agency inputs]
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
What to know about a vulnerability being exploited on Microsoft SharePoint servers
Microsoft has issued an emergency fix to close off a vulnerability in Microsoft's widely-used SharePoint software that hackers have exploited to carry out widespread attacks on businesses and at least some U.S. government agencies. The company issued an alert to customers Saturday saying it was aware of the zero-day exploit being used to conduct attacks and that it was working to patch the issue. Microsoft updated its guidance Sunday with instructions to fix the problem for SharePoint Server 2019 and SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. Engineers were still working on a fix for the older SharePoint Server 2016 software. 'Anybody who's got a hosted SharePoint server has got a problem,' said Adam Meyers, senior vice president with CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm. 'It's a significant vulnerability.' Companies and government agencies around the world use SharePoint for internal document management, data organisation and collaboration. A zero-day exploit is a cyberattack that takes advantage of a previously unknown security vulnerability. 'Zero-day' refers to the fact that the security engineers have had zero days to develop a fix for the vulnerability. According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the exploit affecting SharePoint is 'a variant of the existing vulnerability CVE-2025-49706 and poses a risk to organizations with on-premise SharePoint servers.' Security researchers warn that the exploit, reportedly known as 'ToolShell,' is a serious one and can allow actors to fully access SharePoint file systems, including services connected to SharePoint, such as Teams and OneDrive. Google's Threat Intelligence Group warned that the vulnerability may allow bad actors to 'bypass future patching.' Eye Security said in its blog post that it scanned over 8,000 SharePoint servers worldwide and discovered that at least dozens of systems were compromised. The cybersecurity company said the attacks likely began on July 18. Microsoft said the vulnerability affects only on-site SharePoint servers used within businesses or organisations, and does not affect Microsoft's cloud-based SharePoint Online service. But Michael Sikorski, CTO and Head of Threat Intelligence for Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks, warns that the exploit still leaves many potentially exposed to bad actors. 'While cloud environments remain unaffected, on-prem SharePoint deployments — particularly within government, schools, health care including hospitals, and large enterprise companies — are at immediate risk.' The vulnerability targets SharePoint server software so customers of that product will want to immediately follow Microsoft's guidance to patch their on-site systems. Although the scope of the attack is still being assessed, CISA warned that the impact could be widespread and recommended that any servers impacted by the exploit should be disconnected from the internet until they are patched. 'We are urging organizations who are running on-prem SharePoint to take action immediately and apply all relevant patches now and as they become available, rotate all cryptographic material, and engage professional incident response. An immediate, band-aid fix would be to unplug your Microsoft SharePoint from the internet until a patch is available,' Sikorski advises.
Asahi Shimbun
a day ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
What to know about a vulnerability being exploited on Microsoft SharePoint servers
The Microsoft company logo is displayed at their offices in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 3, 2021. (AP Photo) NEW YORK--Microsoft has issued an emergency fix to close off a vulnerability in Microsoft's widely-used SharePoint software that hackers have exploited to carry out widespread attacks on businesses and at least some U.S. government agencies. The company issued an alert to customers Saturday saying it was aware of the zero-day exploit being used to conduct attacks and that it was working to patch the issue. Microsoft updated its guidance Sunday with instructions to fix the problem for SharePoint Server 2019 and SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. Engineers were still working on a fix for the older SharePoint Server 2016 software. 'Anybody who's got a hosted SharePoint server has got a problem,' said Adam Meyers, senior vice president with CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm. 'It's a significant vulnerability.' Companies and government agencies around the world use SharePoint for internal document management, data organization and collaboration. A zero-day exploit is a cyberattack that takes advantage of a previously unknown security vulnerability. 'Zero-day' refers to the fact that the security engineers have had zero days to develop a fix for the vulnerability. According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the exploit affecting SharePoint is 'a variant of the existing vulnerability CVE-2025-49706 and poses a risk to organizations with on-premise SharePoint servers.' Security researchers warn that the exploit, reportedly known as 'ToolShell,' is a serious one and can allow actors to fully access SharePoint file systems, including services connected to SharePoint, such as Teams and OneDrive. Google's Threat Intelligence Group warned that the vulnerability may allow bad actors to 'bypass future patching.' Eye Security said in its blog post that it scanned over 8,000 SharePoint servers worldwide and discovered that at least dozens of systems were compromised. The cybersecurity company said the attacks likely began on July 18. Microsoft said the vulnerability affects only on-site SharePoint servers used within businesses or organizations and does not affect Microsoft's cloud-based SharePoint Online service. But Michael Sikorski, CTO and Head of Threat Intelligence for Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks, warns that the exploit still leaves many potentially exposed to bad actors. 'While cloud environments remain unaffected, on-prem SharePoint deployments — particularly within government, schools, health care including hospitals, and large enterprise companies — are at immediate risk.' The vulnerability targets SharePoint server software so customers of that product will want to immediately follow Microsoft's guidance to patch their on-site systems. Although the scope of the attack is still being assessed, CISA warned that the impact could be widespread and recommended that any servers impacted by the exploit should be disconnected from the internet until they are patched. 'We are urging organizations who are running on-prem SharePoint to take action immediately and apply all relevant patches now and as they become available, rotate all cryptographic material, and engage professional incident response. An immediate, band-aid fix would be to unplug your Microsoft SharePoint from the internet until a patch is available,' Sikorski advises.
