SQL Server
SQL Server, developed by Microsoft, is a relational database management system (RDBMS) widely used in enterprise IT environments. In the context of cybersecurity, SQL Server presents both a critical asset to protect and a potential vulnerability if not properly secured. The primary cybersecurity considerations for SQL Server revolve around data confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad).
Key Cybersecurity Aspects
Vulnerability to Injection Attacks: The most common and significant threat to SQL Server is SQL injection. This attack occurs when an attacker inserts malicious SQL code into input fields (like website forms) that are processed by the database. The server then executes this code, which can allow the attacker to bypass authentication, retrieve, modify, or delete data, and even take control of the database server itself.
Access Control and Authentication: Proper access control is fundamental. SQL Server's security model includes server-level and database-level roles, user accounts, and permissions. Misconfigured permissions, such as granting overly broad privileges (e.g.,
sysadminrole) to ordinary users or applications, can lead to data breaches. Strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and regular password rotation, are crucial to prevent unauthorized access.Data Encryption: To protect sensitive data, SQL Server offers several encryption features. Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypts the entire database, its log files, and backups at rest, safeguarding data on the physical storage media. Always Encrypted is another feature that ensures data is encrypted in the database while in transit and at rest, and is decrypted only by the client application.
Auditing and Monitoring: SQL Server provides auditing capabilities that track and log events, such as login attempts, data modifications, and privilege changes. Monitoring these logs is vital for detecting suspicious activities in real time. Cybersecurity teams use this information to identify potential threats, investigate incidents, and ensure compliance with security policies.
Patch Management: Microsoft regularly releases security updates and patches for SQL Server to address newly discovered vulnerabilities. Failing to apply these patches promptly leaves the system exposed to known exploits. A robust patch management policy is essential to maintain the security posture of the database.
Network Security: SQL Server instances should be isolated on a secure network segment. Firewall rules should be configured to restrict network access to only authorized users and applications. Transport Layer Security (TLS) should be used to encrypt all data transmitted between the client and the SQL Server, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.
A secure SQL Server environment requires a multi-layered approach that includes strict access controls, data encryption, continuous monitoring, and diligent patch management. Neglecting any of these areas can make the system a prime target for cyberattacks, leading to significant financial and reputational damage.
ThreatNG can help secure SQL Server by providing an external, attacker-centric view of an organization's digital footprint. It identifies and assesses vulnerabilities related to SQL Server that are exposed to the public internet, which an unauthenticated attacker could exploit. ThreatNG's capabilities in this area are comprehensive, ranging from discovery and assessment to continuous monitoring and intelligence.
External Discovery
ThreatNG performs unauthenticated, external discovery to find an organization's publicly exposed assets without using any connectors. This process can identify SQL Server instances that are inadvertently exposed to the internet. For example, ThreatNG's Subdomain Intelligence module can identify ports on subdomains, including those used by databases such as SQL Server. Similarly, its IP Intelligence module can identify an organization's IP addresses, which can then be checked for exposed database ports. The Technology Stack module also identifies the database technologies in use, helping to flag the presence of SQL Server within the organization's infrastructure.
External Assessment
ThreatNG performs various external assessments that are highly relevant to SQL Server security. For a SQL Server instance, these assessments would highlight potential attack vectors and vulnerabilities from an external perspective.
Web Application Hijack Susceptibility: This assessment analyzes parts of a web application accessible from the outside world to identify potential entry points for attackers. If a web application uses a SQL Server backend, this assessment can pinpoint vulnerabilities like SQL injection, which could allow an attacker to hijack the application and compromise the database.
Data Leak Susceptibility: This capability is derived from external attack surface and digital risk intelligence. ThreatNG can discover if data has been exposed, for example, through Compromised Credentials found on the dark web. If a data leak involves credentials for a SQL Server, it would be highlighted here.
Cyber Risk Exposure: This assessment considers parameters from the Domain Intelligence module, such as exposed sensitive ports and vulnerabilities. For a SQL Server, this would include the discovery of an exposed database port, which significantly increases the cyber risk. It also discovers Code Secret Exposure, investigating code repositories for sensitive data, which could include SQL Server connection strings, passwords, or other credentials.
Breach & Ransomware Susceptibility: This is calculated based on external attack surface and digital risk intelligence, including exposed sensitive ports and known vulnerabilities. If a SQL Server has an exposed port or a known vulnerability, it would contribute to a higher susceptibility score.
Reporting and Continuous Monitoring
ThreatNG provides various reports that are crucial for managing SQL Server security, including Executive, Technical, and Prioritized reports. These reports can detail findings related to SQL Server, such as exposed instances, identified vulnerabilities, and associated risks. ThreatNG's reports also include a Knowledgebase with risk levels, reasoning, and recommendations to help organizations prioritize their security efforts.
The platform offers continuous monitoring of an organization's external attack surface, digital risk, and security ratings. This ensures that any new exposures, such as a newly deployed SQL Server instance or a recently discovered vulnerability, are promptly detected and flagged for remediation.
Investigation Modules
ThreatNG's investigation modules provide detailed insights into specific security issues, which can be used for deep dives into SQL Server-related risks.
Domain Intelligence: This module provides a comprehensive view of an organization's domain-related assets. Its DNS Intelligence capabilities can perform Domain Record Analysis to identify IPs and technologies, which could reveal a SQL Server instance. The Subdomain Intelligence module can identify exposed SQL Server databases on subdomains and their associated known vulnerabilities.
Sensitive Code Exposure: This module discovers public code repositories and investigates them for sensitive data. For SQL Server, this would include finding Database Credentials, such as passwords in files or SQL dump files, and Application Data Exposures, such as Remote Desktop connection files that could be used to access the database server.
Search Engine Exploitation: This module helps users investigate an organization's susceptibility to exposing information via search engines. This could include discovering publicly accessible databases or servers, or sensitive information from web servers that could lead to a SQL Server compromise.
Cloud and SaaS Exposure: This module identifies sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud services, as well as open, exposed cloud buckets, across AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. If a SQL Server instance is hosted on one of these cloud platforms and is misconfigured to be publicly exposed, this module would detect it.
Technology Stack: This module identifies the technologies in use by an organization, including Databases such as SQL Server. This helps in creating an inventory of all database assets visible from the outside.
Intelligence Repositories (DarCache)
ThreatNG's continuously updated intelligence repositories, branded as DarCache, provide critical context for SQL Server-related threats.
DarCache Vulnerability: This repository provides a holistic and proactive approach to managing external risks by understanding real-world exploitability, likelihood of exploitation, and potential impact of vulnerabilities. For SQL Server, it includes:
NVD (DarCache NVD): Provides a deep understanding of the technical characteristics and potential impact of each vulnerability, such as those affecting SQL Server.
KEV (DarCache KEV): Identifies vulnerabilities that are actively being exploited in the wild. If a critical SQL Server vulnerability is on the KEV list, ThreatNG would highlight it as an immediate and proven threat.
Verified Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Exploits: ThreatNG provides direct links to PoC exploits on platforms like GitHub, referenced by CVE. This is invaluable for security teams to understand how a SQL Server vulnerability can be exploited and to develop effective mitigation strategies.
DarCache Ransomware: This repository tracks ransomware groups and activities. If a SQL Server instance is exposed and a ransomware group is known to target that specific type of vulnerability, ThreatNG can flag this as a high risk.
Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG's external, unauthenticated approach can work synergistically with other cybersecurity solutions to provide a more complete security picture.
Vulnerability Scanners: ThreatNG's external discovery can identify a publicly exposed SQL Server instance and its associated vulnerabilities. This information can then be fed to a traditional vulnerability scanner, which can perform a deeper, authenticated internal scan of the server and the underlying operating system. This two-pronged approach ensures both external and internal vulnerabilities are identified.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: ThreatNG's continuous monitoring capabilities and reports can be integrated with a SIEM. For example, if ThreatNG detects an exposed SQL Server port or finds compromised credentials on the dark web that belong to a database administrator, it can send an alert to the SIEM. The SIEM can then correlate this external threat with internal logs and events to identify any suspicious activity, such as unusual login attempts or data access, and trigger an automated response.
Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) Tools: ThreatNG can assess a web application's susceptibility to SQL injection. This assessment can inform a DAM tool to monitor for SQL injection attempts on the corresponding database specifically. The DAM tool can then focus its monitoring on relevant database activities, increasing the chances of detecting and preventing a SQL injection attack in real time.
