Vulnerabilities found in the information technology systems of three prominent educational institutions
In a recent development, a serious security vulnerability in Microsoft's SharePoint software, identified as CVE-2025-53770, has been confirmed by Microsoft. This vulnerability is critical and has drawn official warnings. However, the current status and direct impact on three universities in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany - Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), University of Paderborn, and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf - are not explicitly detailed in the latest reports.
The incident has led to temporary shutdowns of servers in the affected universities. Despite this, new registrations for final theses via the student portals of Ruhr University Bochum and University of Paderborn remain unaffected. On the other hand, the student portal of Heinrich Heine University has crashed due to the incident, and students are currently unable to submit their final theses through the portal. Instead, they have been instructed to send their theses by email.
It is worth noting that no data leaks have been reported in any of the affected universities, including Ruhr University Bochum, University of Paderborn, and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. The spokesperson for the NRW Ministry of Science has confirmed the incident.
Authorities and companies are reportedly being targeted via this newly discovered vulnerability in Microsoft's software. The local servers for the SharePoint file-sharing program are affected in the case of Heinrich Heine University. However, no specific information on the remediation measures taken by the universities or updates on the status of the vulnerability have been found in the latest accessible sources.
As the situation evolves, it is advisable for students and staff to monitor official communications from the universities or Microsoft's official security advisories for the most accurate and up-to-date information. It is estimated that the student portal of Heinrich Heine University may take up to two weeks to get back online.
In conclusion, while a serious vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint has been acknowledged, the specific impact on the three universities in North Rhine-Westphalia remains unclear. It is essential to stay informed and follow the instructions provided by the universities and Microsoft for the safety and continuity of academic activities.
Technology, in the form of Microsoft's SharePoint software, has been a source of concern following the identification of a critical security vulnerability (CVE-2025-53770). This vulnerability has led to temporary disruptions in the functionality of student portals for education-and-self-development purposes, specifically at Heinrich Heine University, where students can no longer submit their final theses due to the system crash.
