Microsoft SQL Server: Elevation of privilege due to heap-based buffer overflow
Summary
A heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft SQL Server allows an authorized attacker with high privileges to escalate privileges over the network. The attack complexity is high and a scope change is involved. The bug is mainly relevant as a post-compromise step after an attacker has already obtained admin or service account access or a SQL-level foothold.
Affected
- SQL Server 2022 (GDR), x64: 16.0.0 before 16.0.1220.3
- SQL Server 2022 CU27, x64: 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 GDR, x64: 17.0.1050.2 before 17.0.1155.3
- Older branches: Unknown.
Fixed in
- SQL Server 2022 (GDR): 16.0.1220.3 or later
- SQL Server 2022 CU27: 16.0.4315.2 or later
- SQL Server 2025 CU10: 17.0.5045.3 or later
- SQL Server 2025 GDR: 17.0.1155.3 or later
Workaround
- No vendor workaround known. Unknown.
- Generic hardening: restrict high privileges on SQL Server and the host to the necessary accounts only.
Exploitation
- Third-party trackers report not known to be exploited. Inclusion in CISA KEV: not confirmed.
- No public proof of concept found.
- VulDB estimates an exploit price of about USD 5k to 25k, which is a market estimate and not evidence of a working exploit.
Our recommendation
- Patch affected SQL Server instances in the next maintenance window, prioritising servers with sensitive data or broad admin access.
- Verify the patch level against the MSRC advisory before rollout.
- Make sure TCP 1433 and SQL Browser ports are not reachable from the internet.
- Review and reduce accounts with high privileges on SQL Server and the host.
- Monitor for unusual privilege changes and logins on SQL Server.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- CVE.org CNA record www.cve.org
- Microsoft Security Update Guide (MSRC) msrc.microsoft.com
- VulDB vuldb.com
- OffSeq radar radar.offseq.com
- Strix aggregator www.strix.ai
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, 01:47.
Original description (NVD)
Heap-based buffer overflow 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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