CVE-2024-28942 in OLE DB Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
The CVE-2024-28942 vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server, a component widely utilized for database connectivity in enterprise environments. This vulnerability resides in the driver's handling of specific data structures during database communication processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests when the driver processes specially crafted input through OLE DB connections, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to database resources. Security researchers identified this issue during routine vulnerability assessments of Microsoft's database connectivity components, highlighting its potential for widespread impact across organizations relying on SQL Server integration.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2024-28942 occurs through a buffer overflow condition within the OLE DB driver's parsing routines for specific database protocol messages. When processing malformed input data, the driver fails to properly validate buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to inject and execute malicious code. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflows that are frequently exploited in database-related attack vectors. The flaw specifically affects versions of the Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server where input validation mechanisms are insufficient to prevent malformed data from corrupting memory structures during database transaction processing.
Organizations utilizing affected Microsoft OLE DB Driver versions face significant operational risks from this vulnerability, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to database systems without requiring legitimate credentials. The remote execution capability means that adversaries can exploit this flaw from external network positions, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within network infrastructures. Database administrators and security teams must recognize that this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web applications, desktop applications, and automated database connectivity processes that utilize the affected driver components. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential regulatory compliance violations and data breach consequences that organizations may face.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-28942 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, which address the buffer overflow conditions in the OLE DB driver components. Organizations should prioritize updating all systems utilizing affected driver versions to the latest Microsoft-provided security patches, while implementing network segmentation to limit potential exploitation paths. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for unusual database connectivity patterns, implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict driver usage, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing the vulnerable components. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability, as the ATT&CK framework categorizes such exploits under techniques involving remote code execution through database interfaces. Organizations must maintain continuous monitoring and remediation processes to ensure complete elimination of this vulnerability across their entire infrastructure landscape.