Sophos

Online support

Product maintenance

Contact support

Support services

Download Free hard drive encryption - Download a trial of SafeGuard Easy

Vulnerability: MS09-004. Vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server Could Allow Remote Code Execution

Back to Latest vulnerabilities homepage

Click any highlighted term for further explanation.

 Details
Vulnerability name/brief descriptionVulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server Could Allow Remote Code Execution - MS09-004
CVE/CAN name

CVE-2008-5416

Vendor threat levelImportant
SophosLabs threat levelMedium
Solution

Users are advised to apply the vendor patch for MS09-004 .

Vendor description

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if untrusted users access an affected system or if a SQL injection attack occurs to an affected system. Systems with SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack 4, SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3, and SQL Server 2008 are not affected by this issue.

SophosLabs comments

Although this vulnerability has the potential for remote code execution we believe that it is unlikely that such an attack would be widespread. The vulnerability has not been publically reported and the vulnerability is not exposed to unauthenticated users, requiring an attacker to have some form of access to the targetted machine or ability to gain access via SQL injection.

SophosLabs testing resultN/A
Currently known exploits

At the time of writing SophosLabs has seen no samples of malware attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Should this situation change samples will be analysed and we will take action as necessary.

First sample seenN/A
Discovery date22 December 2008
Affected software

SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4
SQL Server 2000 Itanium-based Edition Service Pack 4
SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2
SQL Server 2005 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
SQL Server 2005 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) Service Pack 4
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 2
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services Service Pack 2

References

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms09-004.mspx
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-5416

Credits

Microsoft MAPP program

Revisions

10 February 2009 - initial analysis written

Explanation of terms

Vulnerability Name/Brief Description:
Vendor identifier plus a brief description of the type of attack.

CVE/CAN Name:
Currently assigned CVE name. If a CVE name doesn't exist the CAN name will be used until a CVE has been assigned.

Vendor Threat Level:

Threat level assigned by the vendor

SophosLabs Threat Level:
Threat level assigned by SophosLabs

  • LOW RISK - There is little chance of this vulnerability being actively exploited by malware.
  • MEDIUM RISK - There is a possibility of this vulnerability being actively exploited by malware.
  • HIGH RISK - There is a strong possibility of this vulnerability being actively exploited by malware.
  • CRITICAL RISK - This vulnerability will almost certainly be actively exploited by malware.

Solution:
Vendor-supplied Patch identifier and recommended solution, or workaround if applicable.

Vendor Description:
Summary of the cause and potential effect of the vulnerability provided by the vendor.

SophosLabs Comments:
SophosLabs' opinions and observations of the vulnerability in question.

SophosLabs Testing Result:
Details of completed lab testing, if applicable. Please note that the lab test environment may differ significantly from user environments.

Currently Known Exploits:
List of identities for known exploits, if applicable.

First Sample Seen:
Date of the first sample seen by SophosLabs.

Discovery Date:
Date of the earliest known publically disclosed advisory.

Affected Software:
Vulnerable platforms and software versions.

 

 

If you need more information or guidance, then please contact technical support.

  • Protect sensitive data from unauthorized use
  • Encrypt data, hard drives and removable media
  • Work uninterrupted with encryption on demand