In July 2025, a zero-day exploit targeting on-premise Microsoft SharePoint servers impacted over 100 government and enterprise organizations globally, including key U.S. agencies like DHS and HHS.
This incident highlights a critical flaw in traditional data protection:
Once a system, such as SharePoint or a network drive, is compromised, every file inside becomes vulnerable.
We'll look into what happened, how Theodosiana's file-level encryption and conditional access model differs from SharePoint’s broader platform approach, and why that matters for IT and security leaders handling sensitive data today.
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Microsoft SharePoint Breach (July 2025): What Happened?
- On-premises SharePoint servers were compromised via zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE‑2025‑49706 & 49704), used by threat groups identified as Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm‑2603
- Attackers gained remote code execution, deployed ransomware, and stole “MachineKey” credentials to maintain persistent access.
Why It Matters to You
If your organization relies on SharePoint's software for internal document workflows or sensitive data sharing:
- You’re exposed to the exact risk these breaches illustrate.
- The attack targeted the systems that stole the files, not the files.
- Once inside, attackers can evade traditional defenses unless files carry their own protection.
How to Evaluate If Your Current File Security Setup Is SharePoint-Weak
Many organizations assume Microsoft SharePoint's security configurations are “good enough” until something goes wrong. If you want to assess whether your current setup leaves you exposed, here are key questions your security team should ask:
- Are files protected when they move outside of SharePoint?
Most organizations rely on platform-level access controls, but once a file is downloaded, emailed, or shared, those controls vanish. File-level protection persists no matter where the file travels. - Can you restrict access based on more than just credentials?
Context-aware policies (e.g., geography, device, or time) add needed depth. Without them, a compromised login = full access. - Do you log access at the file level?
Many SIEM tools track network or folder-level activity but miss what’s actually happening to the file itself, who viewed it, when, how, and whether it was exported. - Can you revoke access instantly, without relying on SharePoint’s admin panel?
Real-time response matters. If you can’t lock a file down the moment a threat is detected, you’re exposed.
If the answer to any of these is “not really,” your file security may be more brittle than you think.
Microsoft SharePoint Vs Theodosian
If you're wondering what would’ve made a difference in the breach, or how to avoid a similar one, here's how Theodosiana stacks up against traditional SharePoint tools when it comes to securing sensitive, export-controlled data.
| Feature | Microsoft (SharePoint) | Theodosiana |
|---|---|---|
| Protection level | Device/system-based | File-level, persistent encryption |
| Access enforcement | Network perimeter control | Context-aware conditional access |
| Post-breach exposure | Once inside, files are unprotected | Data remains unreadable without permissions |
| Audit readiness | Relies on logs/policies | Built-in access logs and policy control |
This SharePoint breach is a wake-up call. When encrypted files leave secure perimeters or when attackers bypass system defences, only protection that travels with the data will keep it safe.
SharePoint’s breach is a reminder that perimeter-based defenses can fail. Theodosian’s architecture shows how file-level encryption with conditional access can help make your files more resilient, before, during, and after a breach.
🛡️ Encryption That Guards Your Data Continually!
Explore how Theodosiana combines encryption and access control at the file level.