CVE-2000-0202 in SQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) 1.0 allow remote attackers to gain privileges via a malformed Select statement in an SQL query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0202 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and Microsoft Data Engine 1.0 implementations. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the SQL query processing engine, specifically when handling malformed select statements that exploit buffer overflow conditions. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire database server infrastructure and underlying system resources.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted SQL queries that manipulate the parsing and execution flow of select statements. The malformed select constructs trigger memory corruption conditions within the database engine's query processor, enabling attackers to overwrite critical memory segments and inject malicious code. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions, where the attacker can manipulate stack memory to redirect program execution flow. The attack vector leverages the network-facing SQL Server service, making it accessible to remote adversaries without requiring local system access or prior authentication credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-0202 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Once exploited, attackers can gain administrative access to the database server, enabling them to modify or delete sensitive data, create new user accounts with elevated permissions, and establish persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on legacy SQL Server 7.0 deployments and MSDE 1.0 implementations, which were prevalent in enterprise environments during the late 1990s and early 2000s. This flaw directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, representing a significant threat to database security posture and information assurance frameworks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of security patches provided by Microsoft, specifically the cumulative security update addressing the buffer overflow conditions in SQL Server 7.0 and MSDE 1.0. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to database servers, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious SQL query patterns, and enforce strict access controls through proper authentication mechanisms. Additionally, security administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify affected systems and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing applications and business processes. System administrators should also consider implementing database audit logging to track and analyze SQL query execution patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.