Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-26115

Microsoft Sql Server 2016 13.0.6300.2 – 13.0.6480.4

Published
10 March 2026
Modified
13 March 2026
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.011 63th percentile
Risk Priority 66 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-26115 is a high-severity Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input (CWE-1287) 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 37% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2026-26115 is an improper validation of specified type of input vulnerability affecting Microsoft SQL Server. Published on March 10, 2026, the issue stems from inadequate input checks, enabling privilege escalation, and carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). It is classified under CWE-1287.

An authorized attacker with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low complexity and no user interaction required. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to achieve high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, specifically by elevating their privileges within the SQL Server environment.

Microsoft's update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-26115 provides details on mitigations and available patches for addressing this vulnerability.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Improper validation of specified type of input in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

CWE(s)
CWE-1287

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
attack.mitre.org →
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-21425Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-21317Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-37318Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-37324Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-37333Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-49021Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-37320Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-21333Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-37321Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016
CVE-2024-21398Same product: Microsoft Sql Server 2016

Affected Assets

microsoft
sql server 2016
13.0.6300.2 — 13.0.6480.4 · 13.0.7000.253 — 13.0.7075.5
microsoft
sql server 2017
14.0.1000.169 — 14.0.2100.4 · 14.0.3006.16 — 14.0.3520.4
microsoft
sql server 2019
15.0.2000.5 — 15.0.2160.4 · 15.0.4003.23 — 15.0.4460.4
microsoft
sql server 2022
16.0.1000.6 — 16.0.1170.5 · 16.0.4003.1 — 16.0.4240.4
microsoft
sql server 2025
17.0.1000.7 — 17.0.1050.2 · 17.0.4006.2 — 17.0.4020.2

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

—

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.1.1
  • V1.4.2
  • V2.1.1
  • V2.2.2

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match

SI-10 directly requires validation of information inputs, which structurally prevents type-validation failures from being introduced or exploitable.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require proper input type validation during development.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing can detect type-validation flaws but does not prevent them during development.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development lifecycle mandates input validation and type checking to prevent improper type handling.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements explicitly include validation of input data types and formats.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture principles promote defensive input handling and type enforcement at system boundaries.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding standards directly require proper type validation of all external inputs.

References