CVE-2016-7250 in SQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft SQL Server 2014 SP1, 2014 SP2, and 2016 does not properly perform a cast of an unspecified pointer, which allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via unknown vectors, aka "SQL RDBMS Engine Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7250 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Microsoft SQL Server versions 2014 SP1, 2014 SP2, and 2016. This issue stems from an improper handling of pointer casting operations within the SQL RDBMS engine component, creating a security weakness that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers. The vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation, where attackers with legitimate database access can potentially elevate their privileges to higher system-level permissions. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes a stack-based buffer overflow condition, though the specific implementation involves pointer manipulation rather than traditional buffer issues. The flaw exists in the database engine's memory management system where it fails to properly validate or handle pointer conversions, creating opportunities for malicious code execution and privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the SQL Server engine through legitimate database connections, leveraging the improper pointer casting behavior to manipulate memory structures. Attackers can potentially use this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing standard security controls and access restrictions. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access to the database system, meaning that any user with valid login credentials could potentially exploit this flaw. The unspecified pointer casting operation creates a scenario where memory corruption can occur, leading to privilege escalation that could allow attackers to access sensitive data, modify database contents, or even gain access to underlying operating system resources. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and represents a common attack pattern where adversaries leverage software flaws to gain elevated system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7250 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to compromise entire database environments and potentially escalate to broader system compromise. Organizations running affected SQL Server versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where database users have elevated privileges or where database administrators maintain extensive access rights. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the database server, making it particularly dangerous for cloud-based deployments or environments with exposed database endpoints. Security teams must consider the potential for data exfiltration, unauthorized database modifications, and the possibility of using this initial foothold to pivot to other systems within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in multiple SQL Server versions indicates a systemic issue within the database engine's architecture, requiring comprehensive patch management strategies across affected systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation measures including applying security patches, reviewing database user permissions, and monitoring for suspicious authentication activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access control measures in database environments, as even authenticated users with legitimate access can become threats when exploited through such flaws.