Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain low-privilege SQL login
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DeliverySend crafted query/request over network
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ExploitTrigger heap buffer overflow
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ExecutionExecute code as SQL Server service
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ImpactPivot to host and data
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Heap buffer bounds checking
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires the attacker to already possess a low-privilege authenticated SQL Server login (CVSS PR:L) with network access to the SQL Server instance (AV:N); it is NOT remotely exploitable by an unauthenticated attacker. The high attack complexity (AC:H) further limits exploitation: a successful heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) generally demands reliable control of heap memory layout, making consistent exploitation non-trivial. No user interaction is required (UI:N). The description does not name a specific non-default feature or configuration setting, so the flaw appears reachable through normal authenticated query/request processing against affected SQL Server 2017-2025 builds below the patched versions listed in EUVD. Primary limiting factors for defenders: valid credentials are mandatory and exploit reliability is reduced by AC:H. |
| Impact | This is a credible, above-average priority for environments running Microsoft SQL Server, but not a drop-everything emergency based on current signals. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H, score 8.5) indicates network-reachable code execution with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact and a scope change - but two metrics temper the real-world risk: AC:H means exploitation is not trivial (heap overflows typically require memory grooming/specific conditions), and PR:L means the attacker must already hold low-privilege authenticated database access, not anonymous network access. No EPSS score, KEV listing, or SSVC decision data was provided in the input, and no public exploit was identified at time of analysis - so there is no evidence of active exploitation or weaponization. The combination of required authentication plus high attack complexity suggests this is more likely to matter as a privilege-escalation/post-compromise step (an attacker with a low-priv SQL login escalating to code execution on the host) than as a mass-exploited internet worm. Missing data to note explicitly: EPSS probability is absent (cannot gauge likelihood of widespread exploitation), and KEV status is absent (treat as not-yet-known-exploited rather than confirmed-not-exploited). |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who has already obtained a low-privilege authenticated SQL Server login (e.g., via leaked application credentials or SQL injection yielding a database session) sends a specially crafted query or request that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow in the SQL Server process. Because attack complexity is high, the attacker must reliably control heap layout, but on success they execute arbitrary code in the context of the SQL Server service. No public exploit code was identified at time of analysis. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026
Authenticated code execution in Microsoft SQL Server 2017 through 2025 arises from a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) that allows a low-privileged database login to execute code on the database server over the network. Exploitation is not available to unauthenticated attackers: valid credentials for a SQL Server login are mandatory (CVSS PR:L) and the high attack complexity (AC:H) reflects the heap-layout grooming normally required for a reliable overflow, so the practical bar is considerably higher than the 8.5 base score alone suggests. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released patched builds across every affected servicing branch.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patch: Microsoft has published fixed builds for every affected branch - SQL Server 2017 GDR 14.0.2140.2 and CU31 14.0.3560.2; SQL Server 2019 GDR 15.0.2200.2 and CU32 15.0.4500.2; SQL Server 2022 GDR 16.0.1210.3 and CU27 16.0.4305.5; SQL Server 2025 GDR 17.0.1145.4 and CU9 17.0.5015.4 - so upgrade to the build matching your servicing track, using the MSRC update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-67625 for the exact download and detection guidance. Since exploitation requires a valid low-privilege login, the strongest compensating control while patching is credential hygiene: audit and disable unused or dormant SQL logins, remove excess membership in db_owner and other privileged roles, and rotate credentials for accounts with network-reachable access, accepting that this can break application service accounts if done without inventory. Network-level restriction of SQL Server connectivity (blocking or firewall-scoping TCP 1433 and the SQL Browser/instance ports to known application subnets) removes unauthenticated and lateral reachability entirely, at the cost of breaking legitimate remote clients and management tooling. Additional hardening with fewer side effects includes enabling query and error-log monitoring for anomalous memory-related failures or repeated crashing sessions, which may indicate active exploitation attempts, and ensuring the SQL Server service account runs with minimal OS privileges so that code execution does not immediately inherit administrative rights on the host. No public exploit code exists, so exploitation is not yet trivially scriptable, but the credential prerequisite means any leaked database login should be treated as an escalation path against unpatched instances.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 8 packages in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The root cause is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122): data supplied through normal database request processing is written past the end of a heap-allocated buffer, corrupting adjacent heap metadata and objects. Because the corruption occurs on the heap rather than the stack, successful exploitation typically requires the attacker to shape the allocation pattern and reliably place controllable data over a target structure before triggering the overwrite - which is why the NVD vector scores AC:H even though the attack is network-delivered (AV:N). The relevant technology is the SQL Server database engine and its client/server protocol surface (TDS on port 1433 by default), meaning an attacker only needs network reachability to the instance plus a valid login, not local access to the host. Scope and privilege impact are contested between sources: NVD's vector assigns S:C (changed scope, escape from the database context), while our assessment scores S:U and treats the outcome as code execution within the SQL Server security context (C:H/I:H/A:H). CWE-122 places this in the same class as memory-corruption flaws that historically move from a compromised database service account toward broader host compromise, so post-exploitation impact depends heavily on the service account's OS privileges.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Network-reachable but needs a low-privilege authenticated login (PR:L) and reliable heap grooming (AC:H); code runs within the SQL Server service itself so I assess S:U rather than the vendor's S:C.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Heap-based buffer overflow in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
Executive ViewAI
Microsoft SQL Server 2017 through 2025 is affected by a high-severity vulnerability that could let an authenticated user with limited database access execute code on the database server. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and exploitation requires valid credentials plus favorable conditions, but a successful compromise could expose sensitive data and disrupt business-critical applications. Leadership should prioritize patching these database servers through standard vulnerability management processes.
Apply vendor patch.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.
A heap overflow occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a buffer allocated in the heap memory region.
EUVD-2026-100708
GHSA-v4wv-hx9g-mj5x
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB