Cyber Resilience

CVE-2020-16952

Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server 2016

Public PoCHigh EPSS
Published
16 October 2020
Modified
23 February 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.6
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L
EPSS Score 0.71 99.3th percentile
Risk Priority 88 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2020-16952 is a high-severity Origin Validation Error (CWE-346) vulnerability in Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server. Its CVSS base score is 8.6 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

<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…

more

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>

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
The vulnerability allows remote code execution via a specially crafted SharePoint application package uploaded to a public-facing SharePoint server.
T1505.003 Web Shell Persistenceconfidence: HIGH
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution within the SharePoint application pool, enabling web shell deployment.
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Executionconfidence: MEDIUM
Arbitrary code execution in the SharePoint context can be leveraged to run commands or scripts via the server farm account.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2020-1181Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server
CVE-2019-0604Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server
CVE-2023-21717Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server
CVE-2022-35823Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server
CVE-2022-37961Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server
CVE-2022-38053Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server
CVE-2023-24955Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server
CVE-2023-24950Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Enterprise Server
CVE-2023-21742Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Foundation
CVE-2022-44690Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Foundation

Affected Assets

microsoft
sharepoint enterprise server
2016
microsoft
sharepoint foundation
2013
microsoft
sharepoint server
2019

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 3 hardening rules · 1 OS baseline
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-346

Requires unique identification of the service before communications, addressing failures to validate the origin of the interaction.

addresses: CWE-346

Trusted path establishment enforces validation that the communication originates from and reaches only the intended trusted system components.

addresses: CWE-346

Enforces validation of the true origin of DNS responses via signatures and chain-of-trust mechanisms.

addresses: CWE-346

Enforces origin validation of name/address data, eliminating reliance on unverified or impersonated DNS sources.

addresses: CWE-346

Mandates origin validation so that only legitimate endpoints can continue the authenticated session.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.AA-03 mostly match
prevents

Authentication directly verifies the source of users/services/hardware, mitigating origin validation failures.

PR.AA-04 mostly match
prevents

Verifying identity assertions enforces origin validation for conveyed claims.

ID.AM-03 partial match
prevents

Documenting authorized flows supports origin validation by defining expected sources.

PR.IR-01 partial match
prevents

Protecting networks from unauthorized access requires origin checks on communication sources.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

mitigates

Network security controls enforce origin validation at network boundaries.

mitigates

Security of network services includes validating the authenticity of service endpoints.

mitigates

Network segregation reduces exposure but does not directly validate origins.

prevents

Application security requirements explicitly call for origin validation of inputs and communications.

prevents

Secure architecture principles encourage origin checks but do not mandate them.

prevents

Secure coding practices include implementing proper origin validation to prevent spoofing.

References