Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain low-privilege SQL Server credential
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DeliveryConnect to SQL Server over network (TDS/TCP 1433)
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ExploitSend crafted request triggering out-of-bounds read
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ExecutionReceive leaked memory contents from server response
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ImpactExtract sensitive data from leaked buffer
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, read limits
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires a valid SQL Server credential with at minimum low-privilege (public role or equivalent) login rights to the target instance - PR:L in the CVSS vector confirms this. The attack is delivered over the network on the standard TDS listener (default TCP 1433), with no user interaction needed. No additional non-default configuration is required beyond having a reachable SQL Server instance with at least one low-privilege account available to the attacker. Exploitation is limited by the credential requirement: unauthenticated external attackers cannot directly exploit this vulnerability. Environments enforcing strong credential hygiene, least-privilege login grants, and network segmentation of the SQL listener materially reduce realistic risk. |
| Impact | The provided CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) scoring 6.5 correctly captures the threat model: network-exploitable, low-complexity, but gated behind authenticated (low-privilege) access, with impact limited to confidentiality. The PR:L gate significantly constrains real-world risk - an attacker must first obtain at least a low-privilege SQL Server login, which limits opportunistic mass exploitation. No EPSS score was provided, no CISA KEV listing exists, and no POC is known, all consistent with a moderate-priority finding. The high confidentiality impact (C:H) reflects that out-of-bounds reads can leak arbitrary memory regions including query data, connection strings, or credentials in process memory. The 'Buffer Overflow' tag in the source data is a mislabel - CWE-125 is an out-of-bounds read (info disclosure), not a write-side overflow (code execution); defenders should not escalate to RCE assumptions based on that tag. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker with a valid low-privilege SQL Server login - obtained via credential stuffing, a compromised application service account, or internal threat - sends a crafted SQL or protocol-level request that triggers the out-of-bounds read in the server process. The server returns memory contents beyond the intended buffer, which may include fragments of other users' query results, cached credentials, or internal data structures. Because AC:L and UI:N, no special timing or victim interaction is required once the credential is in hand. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 09, 2026
Out-of-bounds memory read in Microsoft SQL Server exposes sensitive server-side data to authenticated network attackers. The flaw (CWE-125) spans four major SQL Server release lines - 2017 through 2025 - in both GDR and Cumulative Update servicing tracks, making it broadly present across enterprise environments. An attacker holding low-privilege SQL Server credentials can exploit this to read memory contents beyond an intended buffer boundary, achieving high confidentiality impact without any user interaction. No public exploit code and no CISA KEV listing have been identified at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
Apply the vendor-released patches available through Microsoft's security update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68781. Upgrade SQL Server 2017 GDR to 14.0.2130.4 or later, SQL Server 2017 CU31 to 14.0.3550.4 or later, SQL Server 2019 GDR to 15.0.2190.7 or later, SQL Server 2019 CU32 to 15.0.4490.9 or later, SQL Server 2022 GDR to 16.0.1200.5 or later, SQL Server 2022 CU26 to 16.0.4275.2 or later, SQL Server 2025 CU8 to 17.0.4085.5 or later, and SQL Server 2025 GDR to 17.0.1135.8 or later. If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict SQL Server login grants to the minimum required set of accounts - removing unused or overly broad logins reduces the pool of principals that could exploit PR:L access. Network-level controls (firewall rules restricting TDS port 1433 to authorized client subnets) reduce attack surface but do not eliminate risk from authorized internal users.
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
CWE-125 (Out-of-Bounds Read) occurs when a component reads data past the end of an intended buffer, exposing adjacent memory that may contain passwords, query results, or other in-process data. This is distinct from a write-side buffer overflow - the vulnerability class causes information leakage rather than code execution. The flaw resides in Microsoft SQL Server's network-accessible SQL processing layer, reachable via the standard TDS protocol. Affected CPEs span Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (build 14.x), 2019 (build 15.x), 2022 (build 16.x), and 2025 (build 17.x) across both the General Distribution Release (GDR) and Cumulative Update (CU) servicing channels, meaning the issue is present regardless of whether administrators follow the GDR or CU patching cadence.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Network-reachable via TDS, low complexity, but requires authenticated low-privilege login; pure read-side memory leak means no integrity or availability impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Out-of-bounds read in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to disclose information over a network.
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
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
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EUVD-2026-73187
GHSA-grcf-vf82-2jm6
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB