Microsoft SQL Server: Elevation of privilege via SQL injection
Summary
Microsoft SQL Server contains an SQL injection flaw (CWE-89) that allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over the network. The attacker needs a valid low-privilege login and no user interaction is required. Successful exploitation would give high impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability of the database server and its data.
Affected
- SQL Server 2017 (GDR): 14.0.0 to before 14.0.2150.2
- SQL Server 2017 for x64-based Systems (CU31): 14.0.3006.16 to before 14.0.3570.2
- SQL Server 2019 (GDR): 15.0.0 to before 15.0.2210.4
- SQL Server 2019 for x64-based Systems (CU32): 15.0.4003.23 to before 15.0.4510.2
- SQL Server 2022 (GDR): 16.0.0 to before 16.0.1220.3
- SQL Server 2022 for x64-based Systems (CU27): 16.0.4003.1 to before 16.0.4315.2
- SQL Server 2025 CU10: 17.0.4006.0 to before 17.0.5045.3
- SQL Server 2025 for x64-based Systems (GDR): 17.0.1050.2 to before 17.0.1155.3
Fixed in
- Fixed builds according to the CNA record (boundary versions, to be verified against the Microsoft advisory and KB packages):
- 2017 GDR: 14.0.2150.2
- 2017 CU31 (x64): 14.0.3570.2
- 2019 GDR: 15.0.2210.4
- 2019 CU32 (x64): 15.0.4510.2
- 2022 GDR: 16.0.1220.3
- 2022 CU27 (x64): 16.0.4315.2
- 2025 CU10: 17.0.5045.3
- 2025 GDR (x64): 17.0.1155.3
- The KB package for each branch is not confirmed in the available sources.
Workaround
- Unknown. No Microsoft-published interim mitigation found.
- Until patched, limit which accounts can log in to the instance and reduce their permissions to the minimum.
Exploitation
- Exploited in the wild: Unknown, no evidence found.
- Public proof of concept: Unknown, no evidence found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- The CVSS temporal vector (E:U) indicates unproven exploit code maturity at publication.
Our recommendation
- Patch SQL Server hosts to the fixed build for each installed branch within the next maintenance window; prioritize instances with many login or shared application accounts and instances reachable from other network segments.
- Verify the affected and fixed versions against the Microsoft advisory before rollout.
- Review accounts with high privileges and remove unused logins.
- Monitor for exploitation and recheck the MSRC Exploited field and CISA KEV.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Response Center advisory CVE-2026-118105 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-118105 www.cve.org
- Strix CVE-2026-118105 www.strix.ai
- ThreatInt CVE-2026-118105 cve.threatint.com
- Microsoft SQL Server 2025 GDR KB5132748 (November 2026) support.microsoft.com
- BleepingComputer: Microsoft November 2026 Patch Tuesday www.bleepingcomputer.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 10 Nov 2026, 22:33.
Original description (NVD)
Improper neutralization of special elements used in an sql command ('sql injection') in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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