Microsoft SQL Server: Elevation of privilege due to origin validation error
Summary
Microsoft SQL Server contains an origin validation error (CWE-346) that allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over the network. According to the CVSS vector, the attacker needs a low-privileged login and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is rated high (CVSS 8.0). Rapid7 and ZDI rate exploitation as less likely and report no public exploits.
Affected
- SQL Server 2017 (GDR): 14.0.0 before 14.0.2150.2
- SQL Server 2017 for x64-based Systems (CU31): 14.0.3006.16 before 14.0.3570.2
- SQL Server 2019 (GDR): 15.0.0 before 15.0.2210.4
- SQL Server 2019 for x64-based Systems (CU32): 15.0.4003.23 before 15.0.4510.2
- SQL Server 2022 (GDR): 16.0.0 before 16.0.1220.3
- SQL Server 2022 for x64-based Systems (CU27): 16.0.4003.1 before 16.0.4315.2
- SQL Server 2025 CU10: 17.0.4006.0 before 17.0.5045.3
- SQL Server 2025 for x64-based Systems (GDR): 17.0.1050.2 before 17.0.1155.3
- Azure SQL and other Microsoft-hosted services: Unknown.
Fixed in
- November 2026 security update for each affected branch (fixed builds as listed above).
- SQL Server 2025 GDR: build 17.0.1155.3 (KB5132748). Confirm that this CVE is included in the KB.
Workaround
- No vendor workaround known. Patching is the fix.
- Interim hardening: review members of sysadmin and other high-privilege server roles, remove unneeded elevated rights from application and service logins, and do not expose SQL Server directly to the internet.
Exploitation
- Rapid7 rates the CVE as Exploitation Less Likely and reports no public disclosure.
- ZDI reports that no SQL Server bugs in this release are publicly known or exploited.
- No public proof of concept and no CISA KEV listing found (verify directly in the KEV catalog).
Our recommendation
- Apply the November 2026 security update to all affected SQL Server instances in the next scheduled maintenance window, earlier if SQL Server is reachable from untrusted networks.
- Confirm exact build numbers in the MSRC advisory before change work.
- Review and reduce high-privilege database roles and service account rights.
- Check whether SQL Server is exposed to the internet or shared with internet-facing applications.
- Patch the separate SQL Server flaw of the same release rated 9.8 first.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- MSRC Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-118111 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-118111 www.cve.org
- Microsoft KB5132748 SQL Server 2025 GDR November 2026 support.microsoft.com
- Rapid7 Patch Tuesday review November 2026 www.rapid7.com
- ZDI November 2026 security update review www.thezdi.com
- ThreatInt CVE-2026-118111 (third-party copy) cve.threatint.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 11 Nov 2026, 01:55.
Original description (NVD)
Origin validation error 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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