CVE-2024-28940 in OLE DB Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 04/09/2024
Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
The Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server remote code execution vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through specially crafted database connections. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the OLE DB driver and poses significant risks to enterprise environments that rely on SQL Server connectivity. The flaw exists within the driver's handling of specific database connection parameters and authentication mechanisms, creating an attack surface that can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges on the target system. Security researchers identified this issue during routine vulnerability assessments of Microsoft's database connectivity components, highlighting the persistent challenges in securing complex enterprise database infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly routine database operations can become entry points for sophisticated attacks targeting organizational data assets.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the OLE DB driver's connection string parsing logic. When processing certain connection parameters, the driver fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input, allowing malicious payloads to be executed during the authentication handshake process. This flaw specifically impacts how the driver handles authentication tokens and connection metadata, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the database connection context. The vulnerability can be triggered through various attack vectors including malformed connection strings, crafted authentication parameters, and specially designed database queries that exploit the driver's insufficient validation mechanisms. According to CWE standards, this represents a classic case of input validation failure that enables code execution through improper handling of external data sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-28940 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges to system-level access, and move laterally within network environments where SQL Server connections are prevalent. Organizations with extensive database infrastructure face particular risk since the vulnerability can be exploited across multiple database connections simultaneously, potentially affecting hundreds or thousands of systems. The attack surface includes not only direct database servers but also applications that utilize the OLE DB driver for connectivity, making the impact more widespread than initially apparent. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK tactics focused on execution and privilege escalation, enabling attackers to establish footholds that can be used for broader reconnaissance and data theft operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, with particular attention to critical database servers and applications that utilize the OLE DB driver. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit database connection access, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious connection patterns, and establish robust monitoring procedures for authentication failures and unusual database activity. Security teams must also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using the affected driver versions and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Additional protective measures include implementing strict connection string validation, disabling unnecessary database connectivity features, and establishing automated patch management processes to ensure timely vulnerability remediation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts.