CVE-2024-28932: Microsoft ODBC Driver for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Recently, a vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28932 has been discovered in the Microsoft ODBC Driver for SQL Server. This remote code execution vulnerability has the potential to allow an attacker to execute malicious code on an affected system. To help understand the underlying issue and how to protect your systems, in this post, we will dive deep into details about the vulnerability, the exploit, and how to mitigate the threat.

What is CVE-2024-28932?
CVE-2024-28932 is a known vulnerability that affects the Microsoft ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) Driver for SQL Server. The ODBC Driver is a critical component that facilitates communication between applications and databases. When exploited, this vulnerability allows an attacker to remotely execute code on a target system, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data leaks, and other forms of malicious activity.

References

The vulnerability was reported on the CVE database (https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-28932) and also on the Microsoft Security Response Center website (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-us/vulnerability/CVE-2024-28932).

Exploit Details

The vulnerability is exploitable via SQL injection attacks. An SQL injection attack occurs when an attacker manipulates an application to execute arbitrary SQL on a target system. This may be achieved by sending malicious SQL queries to the application, which then processes and forwards these queries to the database for execution. The attacker may submit crafted queries that contain unexpected executable code to exploit this vulnerability.

Here is a simplified example of an SQL injection attack exploiting this vulnerability

SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '' OR 1=1 AND password = '' OR 1=1

In this example, an attacker submits an SQL query with the injection OR 1=1 to bypass checks within the application, which ultimately leads to remote code execution on the target system. Although this is a simple example, the actual exploitation could be more complex, depending on the targeted application and its handling of SQL queries.

Mitigations

To prevent this vulnerability from being exploited in corporate environments, the following protective measures should be taken:

1. First and foremost, ensure that you have applied the security updates released by Microsoft for CVE-2024-28932. You can find information about applicable updates on the Microsoft Security Response Center website (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-us/vulnerability/CVE-2024-28932).

2. Enable input validation for all user data that may be used in SQL queries. Validate the input to ensure it meets expected criteria and does not contain potentially malicious code. This validation should occur both client-side in the application and server-side in the database.

3. Employ parameterized queries, also known as prepared statements, which securely separate input data from the SQL query itself, reducing the risk of SQL injection attacks. Here's a simple example of using parameterized queries with the ODBC API in C++ as described in Microsoft's ODBC documentation (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/reference/develop-app/parameterized-queries?view=sql-server-ver15):

// Allocate statement handle
SQLHANDLE hstmt;
SQLAllocHandle(SQL_HANDLE_STMT, hdbc, &hstmt);

// Define the SQL parameterized query
SQLCHAR szSQL[] = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ? AND password = ?";

// Prepare the query
SQLRETURN retcode = SQLPrepare(hstmt, szSQL, SQL_NTS);

// Bind the input parameters
SQLCHAR username[] = "user";
SQLCHAR password[] = "pass";
SQLBindParameter(hstmt, 1, SQL_PARAM_INPUT, SQL_C_CHAR, SQL_VARCHAR, , , username, , NULL);
SQLBindParameter(hstmt, 2, SQL_PARAM_INPUT, SQL_C_CHAR, SQL_VARCHAR, , , password, , NULL);

// Execute the parameterized query
retcode = SQLExecute(hstmt);

4. Ensure Least Privilege Principle is followed for the users in your databases. This means to only grant the minimum required permissions that a user needs to perform their tasks. Utilize Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for better user management.

5. Regularly monitor and audit your systems for any suspicious activities, especially check the logs for any unexpected SQL queries.

6. Limit the attack surface by updating firewall rules, segmenting networks, and ensuring secure communications by implementing SSL/TLS encryption for data transmissions.

Conclusion

The Microsoft ODBC Driver for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability, CVE-2024-28932, poses a significant threat to affected systems. By following the mitigations discussed in this post, you can significantly reduce the risk of your systems being compromised by attackers looking to exploit this vulnerability. Stay updated and stay secure!

Timeline

Published on: 04/09/2024 17:15:54 UTC
Last modified on: 04/10/2024 13:24:00 UTC