Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-33160

RCE in Microsoft Sharepoint Server 2016 … 2019

Published
11 July 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.043 90th percentile
Risk Priority 74 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-33160 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Microsoft Sharepoint Server. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 10% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2023-33160 is a remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint Server, carrying a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 and mapped to CWE-502 for deserialization of untrusted data. The flaw affects SharePoint Server instances reachable over the network and enables an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server.

An attacker with low privileges can exploit the issue remotely with low attack complexity and no user interaction, resulting in complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected server. The published EPSS score remains flat at 0.1237 with no material increase after disclosure.

Microsoft’s Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-33160 supplies official guidance on available patches and mitigation steps for supported SharePoint Server versions.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Microsoft SharePoint Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-38018Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2026-70321Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2024-49070Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2026-20963Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2026-66805Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2025-30384Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2024-43466Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2026-65663Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2024-21318Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server
CVE-2025-54897Same product: Microsoft Sharepoint Server

Affected Assets

microsoft
sharepoint server
2016, 2019, all versions

Mitigating Controls

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-502

Penetration testing supplies malicious serialized objects, detecting unsafe deserialization and supporting corrective actions.

addresses: CWE-502

Evaluation of untrusted data handling (deserialization testing) reveals unsafe processing, which the required remediation process addresses.

addresses: CWE-502

Untrusted serialized data can be deserialized and observed inside the chamber, blocking gadget-chain exploitation outside the sandbox.

addresses: CWE-502

Validates or rejects untrusted serialized data before deserialization occurs.

addresses: CWE-502

Identifies and blocks malicious code introduced through deserialization of untrusted data at system boundaries.

addresses: CWE-502

Integrity verification of serialized information can detect tampering before deserialization occurs.

addresses: CWE-502

Provenance of associated data allows detection of untrusted sources before deserialization or processing occurs.

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.PS-02 none match
prevents

PR.PS-02 addresses only post-deployment updates/patching and cannot prevent introduction of unsafe deserialization code, yet it can remediate some instances when the flaw exists in outdated libraries or components.

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.

finds

Security testing includes validation of deserialization routines and the use of untrusted data, reducing the likelihood that unsafe object reconstruction will be deployed.

prevents

Requiring vetted libraries, regular updates and SAST before release reduces the likelihood that deserialization logic will accept and act on attacker-controlled serialized objects.

finds

Regular scanning of third-party libraries and timely patching reduce the likelihood that unsafe deserialization vulnerabilities remain active.

none

Mandatory malware scanning of data received over networks or storage media intercepts malicious serialized payloads before they are deserialized by the target application.

References