Microsoft OneDrive File Picker Flaw Grants Apps Full Cloud Access — Even When Uploading Just One File
Microsoft OneDrive File Picker Flaw Grants Apps Full Cloud Access — Even When Uploading Just One File
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The reported security threat involves a flaw in the Microsoft OneDrive File Picker component, which is used by third-party applications to allow users to upload files to their OneDrive cloud storage. The vulnerability enables an application, which is ostensibly granted permission to upload a single file, to gain full access to the user's entire OneDrive cloud storage. This means that instead of being limited to the intended scope of uploading one file, the malicious or compromised app can potentially read, modify, delete, or exfiltrate all files and data stored in the user's OneDrive account. The flaw likely stems from improper scope or token permission handling during the OAuth or API authorization process, where the access token granted to the app is not properly restricted to the minimal required permissions. Although the exact technical details and affected versions are not specified, the issue is significant because it breaks the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized data exposure or manipulation. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and the discussion level in the source community is minimal, indicating that the vulnerability might be newly discovered or not yet widely exploited. However, the potential for abuse is considerable given the widespread use of OneDrive in both personal and enterprise environments.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to data confidentiality and integrity. Many enterprises and public sector entities in Europe rely heavily on Microsoft 365 services, including OneDrive, for storing sensitive documents, intellectual property, and personal data protected under GDPR. Unauthorized full access to OneDrive could lead to large-scale data breaches, loss of intellectual property, disruption of business operations, and regulatory penalties due to non-compliance with data protection laws. The ability for an app to escalate privileges from uploading a single file to full cloud access increases the attack surface for insider threats, supply chain attacks, or malicious third-party applications. This could also facilitate lateral movement within corporate networks if attackers leverage stolen data or credentials. The medium severity rating suggests that exploitation might require some conditions or user interaction, but the potential damage remains significant, especially in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government sectors prevalent across Europe.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should immediately audit and restrict third-party applications that integrate with OneDrive, especially those requesting file upload permissions. Implement strict application whitelisting and permission reviews in Azure Active Directory and Microsoft 365 admin portals to ensure apps only have the minimal required scopes. Employ conditional access policies to limit app access based on user risk, device compliance, and network location. Enable continuous monitoring and alerting for unusual OneDrive API activity or large-scale file access patterns. Educate users to be cautious when granting permissions to new or untrusted applications. Organizations should also track Microsoft security advisories for patches or updates addressing this flaw and apply them promptly once available. In the interim, consider disabling or limiting the use of the OneDrive File Picker in custom or third-party applications until the vulnerability is resolved. Finally, conduct regular penetration testing and security assessments focusing on cloud storage integrations to detect similar privilege escalation issues.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Belgium
Microsoft OneDrive File Picker Flaw Grants Apps Full Cloud Access — Even When Uploading Just One File
Description
Microsoft OneDrive File Picker Flaw Grants Apps Full Cloud Access — Even When Uploading Just One File
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The reported security threat involves a flaw in the Microsoft OneDrive File Picker component, which is used by third-party applications to allow users to upload files to their OneDrive cloud storage. The vulnerability enables an application, which is ostensibly granted permission to upload a single file, to gain full access to the user's entire OneDrive cloud storage. This means that instead of being limited to the intended scope of uploading one file, the malicious or compromised app can potentially read, modify, delete, or exfiltrate all files and data stored in the user's OneDrive account. The flaw likely stems from improper scope or token permission handling during the OAuth or API authorization process, where the access token granted to the app is not properly restricted to the minimal required permissions. Although the exact technical details and affected versions are not specified, the issue is significant because it breaks the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized data exposure or manipulation. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and the discussion level in the source community is minimal, indicating that the vulnerability might be newly discovered or not yet widely exploited. However, the potential for abuse is considerable given the widespread use of OneDrive in both personal and enterprise environments.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to data confidentiality and integrity. Many enterprises and public sector entities in Europe rely heavily on Microsoft 365 services, including OneDrive, for storing sensitive documents, intellectual property, and personal data protected under GDPR. Unauthorized full access to OneDrive could lead to large-scale data breaches, loss of intellectual property, disruption of business operations, and regulatory penalties due to non-compliance with data protection laws. The ability for an app to escalate privileges from uploading a single file to full cloud access increases the attack surface for insider threats, supply chain attacks, or malicious third-party applications. This could also facilitate lateral movement within corporate networks if attackers leverage stolen data or credentials. The medium severity rating suggests that exploitation might require some conditions or user interaction, but the potential damage remains significant, especially in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government sectors prevalent across Europe.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should immediately audit and restrict third-party applications that integrate with OneDrive, especially those requesting file upload permissions. Implement strict application whitelisting and permission reviews in Azure Active Directory and Microsoft 365 admin portals to ensure apps only have the minimal required scopes. Employ conditional access policies to limit app access based on user risk, device compliance, and network location. Enable continuous monitoring and alerting for unusual OneDrive API activity or large-scale file access patterns. Educate users to be cautious when granting permissions to new or untrusted applications. Organizations should also track Microsoft security advisories for patches or updates addressing this flaw and apply them promptly once available. In the interim, consider disabling or limiting the use of the OneDrive File Picker in custom or third-party applications until the vulnerability is resolved. Finally, conduct regular penetration testing and security assessments focusing on cloud storage integrations to detect similar privilege escalation issues.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Source Type
- Subreddit
- InfoSecNews
- Reddit Score
- 1
- Discussion Level
- minimal
- Content Source
- reddit_link_post
- Domain
- thehackernews.com
Threat ID: 68374430182aa0cae2557af9
Added to database: 5/28/2025, 5:13:20 PM
Last enriched: 6/27/2025, 5:26:33 PM
Last updated: 7/31/2025, 3:15:28 AM
Views: 12
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