CVE-2025-49758
Published: 12 August 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-49758 is a high-severity Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269) vulnerability in Microsoft Sql Server 2016. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 19.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-49758 is an SQL injection vulnerability caused by improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands within SQL Server. The issue is classified under CWE-269 and received a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, and low privileges required for exploitation.
An authorized attacker can leverage the flaw over a network to elevate privileges on the affected SQL Server instance, resulting in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The current and peak EPSS scores both stand at 0.0129, indicating no material increase in observed exploitation interest since disclosure.
The Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-49758 provides official guidance on mitigation and patching.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-24377
Vulnerability details
Improper neutralization of special elements used in an sql command ('sql injection') in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
SQL injection leading to authenticated remote privilege escalation directly matches Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly requires validation of information inputs to neutralize special elements in SQL commands, preventing SQL injection exploitation.
Mandates timely remediation of identified flaws, such as applying Microsoft's patch for this SQL Server SQL injection vulnerability.
Enforces least privilege to restrict the damage from privilege escalation even if SQL injection partially succeeds.