Microsoft Put Older Versions of SharePoint on Life Support. Hackers Are Taking Advantage

Multiple hacking groups—including state actors from China—have targeted a vulnerability in older, on-premises versions of the file-sharing tool after a flawed attempt to patch it.

Hundreds of organizations around the world suffered data breaches this week, as an array of hackers rushed to exploit a recently discovered vulnerability in older versions of the Microsoft file-sharing tool known as SharePoint. The string of breaches adds to an already urgent and complex dynamic: Institutions that are longtime SharePoint users can face increased risk by continuing to use the service, just as Microsoft is winding down support for a platform in favor of newer cloud offerings.