The Premier League's bottom club went into Saturday’s game having failed to score away from home since August 31.
Despite enjoying the better of a largely drab encounter at Upton Park, Sunderland were once again unable to find the target and remain without an away win this season.
Phil Bardsley rattled the crossbar from distance in the first half for Gus Poyet's men, while West Ham offered next to nothing as an attacking threat, much to the frustration of their supporters.
Ravel Morrison and Joe Cole replaced the suspended Kevin Nolan and injured Stewart Downing in West Ham's line-up, while Poyet handed recalls to Lee Cattermole, Emanuele Giaccherini and Fabio Borini.
The powerful Mohamed Diame proved an early threat for Sam Allardyce's side, yet it was Sunderland who should have taken the lead after six minutes.
Jozy Altidore found himself one-on-one with Jussi Jaaskelainen, but the forward's low strike across goal was tipped wide.
West Ham finally forced Vito Mannone into action 10 minutes after the interval, but the Italian goalkeeper dealt comfortably with Morrison's drilled shot.
Ki Sung-Yueng forced Jaaskelainen into action at his near post with Sunderland's clearest opportunity of the second period, while Morrison fired wide at the other end with five minutes remaining.
Mannone was on hand to tip George McCartney's goal-bound cross over in stoppage time and both sides will know improvement is required if they are to pull away from the league's lower reaches.
