News
Microsoft Releases SQL Bug Warning
- By Scott Bekker
- March 10, 2000
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security vulnerability in SQL Server 7.0 and Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) 1.0. The vulnerability could allow a remote author of a malicious SQL query to take unauthorized actions on a SQL Server or MSDE database or on the underlying system that was hosting the SQL Server or MSDE database.
Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) SQL Server 7.0 and MSDE 1.0 perform incomplete argument validation on certain classes of remotely submitted SQL statements. If a user is able to submit a particular form of a SQL Select statement to SQL Server or MSDE, it is possible to take actions on the SQL database or, if the SQL Server or MSDE is operating in an account with elevated privileges on the underlying system, or the underlying operating system itself.
In order to exploit this vulnerability, a user would have to have the right to submit queries to the SQL Server or MSDE via ODBC, OLE DB, or DB-Library and be logged on using SQL Server Security. The user would not require any special privileges beyond the right to submit SQL queries.
Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and MSDE 1.0 are affected by the vulnerability. A patch is available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=19132. - Isaac Slepner
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.