CVE-2024-30044 is a high-severity remote code execution vulnerability identified in Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 (version 16.0.0). The root cause is a deserialization of untrusted data issue (CWE-502), where the SharePoint server improperly processes serialized input from potentially untrusted sources. This flaw allows an attacker with high privileges (PR:H) to remotely execute arbitrary code on the affected system without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability is exploitable over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), meaning an attacker with authorized access can craft malicious serialized objects that, when deserialized by the SharePoint server, lead to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.2, reflecting significant impact on all security properties (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability’s nature and severity make it a critical concern for organizations using this SharePoint version. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2024 and published in May 2024, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. No official patches or mitigation links are currently provided, increasing the urgency for organizations to implement interim protective measures. Given SharePoint’s role as a collaboration and document management platform, exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, and service disruption, severely impacting business operations and data security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-30044 can be substantial due to the widespread use of Microsoft SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 in both private and public sectors. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized remote code execution, allowing attackers to gain control over SharePoint servers, access sensitive corporate or governmental documents, and disrupt critical collaboration services. This can result in data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, leading to legal and financial repercussions. Additionally, the integrity and availability of SharePoint services could be compromised, affecting business continuity and productivity. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and manufacturing, which heavily rely on SharePoint for document management and internal workflows, are particularly at risk. The high privileges required to exploit the vulnerability suggest that insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged by attackers, emphasizing the need for strict access controls. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the vulnerability’s characteristics indicate a high potential for future exploitation, especially in targeted attacks against European organizations with valuable intellectual property or sensitive data.

Given the absence of official patches at this time, European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict access to SharePoint Enterprise Server 2016 to only trusted and necessary users by enforcing strict network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to internal networks or VPNs. 2) Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts with high privileges on SharePoint to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3) Monitor and audit SharePoint server logs for unusual deserialization activity or anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Disable or restrict features that accept serialized input from untrusted sources if possible, or apply application-level input validation to prevent malicious payloads. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions on SharePoint servers to detect suspicious process execution or memory injection techniques. 6) Prepare for rapid patch deployment by establishing communication channels with Microsoft and subscribing to security advisories to apply updates immediately upon release. 7) Conduct internal penetration testing focused on deserialization vulnerabilities to identify and remediate potential attack vectors. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control hardening, monitoring for specific attack patterns, and proactive preparation for patch management.