CVE-2025-47954: SQL Injection Vulnerability in SQL Server with Elevated Privilege Risk

Overview

In the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity, new vulnerabilities are discovered on a regular basis. One such recent discovery is CVE-2025-47954, a critical vulnerability affecting SQL Server. This vulnerability stems from the improper neutralization of special elements in an SQL command, a common issue known as ‘SQL Injection’. SQL Injection vulnerabilities can be quite serious as they can potentially allow an attacker to manipulate the database queries, leading to unauthorized access, data manipulation and potential system compromise. This vulnerability particularly matters as it is capable of granting an attacker elevated privileges over a network, posing a serious risk to the integrity and security of data systems using SQL Server.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-47954
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

SQL Server | All versions up to latest update

How the Exploit Works

The exploit works by taking advantage of the improper neutralization of special elements in an SQL command. The attacker, who already has low-level privileges, sends a malicious SQL command over the network to the SQL server. This command is designed to manipulate the database query so that it performs actions beneficial to the attacker, such as elevating the attacker’s privileges.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a pseudocode representation of a malicious SQL command:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '' OR 'a'='a'; -- AND password = '' OR 'a'='a';

In this example, the attacker injects `’a’=’a’` into the SQL command, which is always true and therefore bypasses the original authentication logic. The `–` is a comment symbol in SQL, which neutralizes any code following it. Thus, the attacker effectively bypasses the password check, allowing them to gain unauthorized access.
Keep in mind that this is a simplified representation. An actual attack would likely be much more complex and designed to achieve specific goals, such as privilege elevation.

Mitigation Guidance

The best mitigation for this vulnerability is to apply vendor patches as soon as they become available. Until a patch is available, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. These systems can detect and block SQL Injection attempts, reducing the risk of exploitation. Additionally, it is recommended to follow best practices in SQL command construction and input validation to provide an extra layer of defense against SQL Injection attacks.