SharePoint flaw gives hackers easy access - here’s what to do
A critical Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability (CVE-2023-24955) is being exploited in the wild, giving hackers a direct path into your network. Learn how the attack works, who’s at risk, and what actions to take now to protect your organization.
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Microsoft just patched a critical vulnerability in SharePoint (CVE-2024-38023), but not before hackers started exploiting it in the wild. The flaw lets hackers perform what’s called a spoofing attack - essentially tricking the system into treating a malicious user like a trusted one. This opens the door to data theft, privilege escalation, and further compromise inside your IT network.
Even more concerning: the exploit doesn’t require user interaction. That means no phishing click, no weird email - just an unpatched server and a determined hacker.
“How bad is it really?”
CISA thinks it’s serious enough to issue a mandatory directive for federal agencies to patch the flaw by August 5, 2025 . The vulnerability received a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, putting it in “drop everything” territory for IT and cybersecurity teams.
Microsoft says the attack complexity is low, and exploitation is already occurring in the wild . Translation: if your SharePoint systems are exposed, there’s a non-zero chance you’re already on a hacker’s radar.
“How do I know if I’m affected?”
The vulnerability impacts SharePoint Server versions 2016, 2019, and Subscription Edition. If your organization self-hosts SharePoint (instead of using SharePoint Online), you need to verify which version you’re on and whether the July 2025 security update has been applied.
Here’s Microsoft’s official patch guidance.
Not sure if your IT team already patched it? Ask them: “Have we installed the July 2025 SharePoint patch for CVE-2024-38023?” If you get silence or confusion - escalate to your leadership team!
“What should I do right now?”
Patch. Immediately. Like right now. Prioritize any internet-accessible SharePoint instances, but don’t stop there - internal systems are still at risk from insider threats or lateral movement.
If you can’t patch right away:
Audit SharePoint access controls and logs
Limit access to sensitive SharePoint sites
Monitor for suspicious authentication patterns
Also, take this as an opportunity to review your broader patch management process. If a critical vulnerability can be live in your systems for weeks before anyone notices, that’s a process gap worth fixing.
“Why does this keep happening with Microsoft?”
Microsoft platforms remain popular with hackers because they’re deeply embedded in how organizations operate. The more widely adopted a technology is, the more attractive it becomes as a target.
This isn’t about blaming Microsoft - they’ve released a patch. The issue is how quickly (or slowly) organizations apply it. Most organizations patch critical vulnerabilities within an SLA of 30 days - far too long when attackers are moving in hours, not weeks.
“What’s your take on this?”
This is yet another example of how cybersecurity risk doesn’t always come from phishing emails or zero-day exploits. Sometimes, it’s from your patch cadence - or lack of one.
At Hive Systems, we help organizations move from reactive panic to proactive risk reduction. Whether it’s through vulnerability management, patch strategy, or full-stack cybersecurity assessments, our goal is the same: make cybersecurity simple, effective, and tailored to your business.
If SharePoint is critical to how you do business, protecting it shouldn’t be an afterthought. Learn more ❯
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