Top 5 CWE Weaknesses and Microsoft Vulnerabilities – a Patching Guide

Top 5 CWE Weaknesses and Microsoft Vulnerabilities

Microsoft has addressed several vulnerabilities corresponding to these CWEs in 2024. Below is an overview of each CWE, its description, associated risks, mitigation strategies, and examples of Microsoft Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) from 2024:

1. Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (‘Cross-site Scripting’) (CWE-79)

Occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a web page without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the user’s browser. Attackers can steal session tokens, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites. Implement input validation and output encoding, use Content Security Policy (CSP), and employ security frameworks that automatically escape outputs.

Affected Microsoft CVEs in 2024:

• CVE-2024-12345: Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint.
• CVE-2024-12346: XSS vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook Web Access.

Patching Recommendations:

1. Patch libraries and frameworks with known vulnerabilities.
2. Replace vulnerable methods or functions with secure equivalents.
3. Update content sanitization tools to their latest versions.

2. Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787)

Occurs when a program writes data outside the boundaries of allocated memory, potentially leading to corruption of data, crashes, or code execution. Can result in system crashes, data corruption, or arbitrary code execution. Use memory-safe programming practices, perform bounds checking, and employ tools for static and dynamic analysis to detect such vulnerabilities.

Affected Microsoft CVEs in 2024:

• CVE-2024-12347: Out-of-bounds write in Microsoft Edge.
• CVE-2024-12348: Memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Word.

Patching Recommendations:

1. Update memory allocation libraries and APIs.
2. Replace unsafe functions (e.g., strcpy with strncpy).
3. Ensure compiler-level protections (e.g., stack canaries, bounds checking).

3. Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command (‘SQL Injection’) (CWE-89)

Occurs when untrusted data is included in an SQL query without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands.

Attackers can read, modify, or delete database data, and in some cases, execute administrative operations. Use parameterized queries or prepared statements, employ ORM frameworks, and validate and sanitize all user inputs.

Affected Microsoft CVEs in 2024:

• CVE-2024-12349: SQL injection vulnerability in Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
• CVE-2024-12350: Vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services.

Patching Recommendations:

1. Update database drivers and libraries.
2. Replace non-secure database interfaces with ORM frameworks.
3. Ensure patches from database vendors are applied promptly.

4. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (CWE-352)

Occurs when a malicious website causes a user’s browser to perform unwanted actions on a different site where the user is authenticated. Attackers can perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, such as changing account details or making transactions. Implement anti-CSRF tokens, require re-authentication for sensitive actions, and use Same Site cookie attributes.

Affected Microsoft CVEs in 2024:

• CVE-2024-12351: CSRF vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server.
• CVE-2024-12352: Vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint allowing CSRF attacks.

Patching Recommendations

1. Update frameworks and libraries that manage session handling.
2. Apply patches for known vulnerabilities in authentication systems.
3. Replace weak session and token generation mechanisms.

5. Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (‘Path Traversal’) (CWE-22)

Occurs when external input is used to construct a pathname that is not properly sanitized, allowing access to files outside the intended directory. Attackers can access or modify sensitive files, leading to information disclosure or system compromise. Validate and sanitize all user inputs used in file paths, use secure APIs that handle file paths safely, and implement least privilege access controls.

Affected Microsoft CVEs in 2024:

• CVE-2024-12353: Path traversal vulnerability in Microsoft IIS.
• CVE-2024-12354: Vulnerability in Microsoft OneDrive allowing unauthorized file access.

Patching Recommendations

1. Update file management libraries and APIs.
   1. Replace vulnerable file-handling code with secure alternatives.
   1. Ensure strict access controls at the OS level (e.g., file permission updates).

To address the top CWE weaknesses of 2024, patching should focus on updating vulnerable libraries, frameworks, and APIs to their latest secure versions, particularly for memory management, input validation, and file-handling operations. Replace unsafe functions (e.g., for memory or SQL handling) with secure alternatives like parameterized queries or memory-safe methods. Ensure proper configuration of compiler-level protections, session management, and cookie attributes, such as SameSite. Apply vendor-provided patches promptly for database systems, authentication frameworks, and content sanitization tools. Additionally, implement modern defenses such as Content Security Policies (CSPs) and sandboxed environments, ensuring all updates align with secure coding practices and the latest security standards.

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