CVE-2026-21262: Microsoft SQL Server privilege escalation via improper access control

CVE-2026-21262 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-03-10

A vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server could allow an authorized user to gain higher-level administrative permissions than they should have. SQL Server is a widely used database system for storing and managing corporate data. If exploited, an attacker with basic access could potentially view, modify, or delete sensitive information across the entire database environment.

Technologies: Microsoft Sql Server 2016, Microsoft Sql Server 2017, Microsoft Sql Server 2019, Microsoft Sql Server 2022. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-21262 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-21262 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-21262?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 10 March 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Sql Server 2016 13.0.6300.2 to 13.0.6480.4, 13.0.7000.253 to 13.0.7075.5; Microsoft Sql Server 2017 14.0.1000.169 to 14.0.2100.4, 14.0.3006.16 to 14.0.3520.4; Microsoft Sql Server 2019 15.0.2000.5 to 15.0.2160.4, 15.0.4003.23 to 15.0.4460.4; Microsoft Sql Server 2022 16.0.1000.6 to 16.0.1170.5, 16.0.4003.1 to 16.0.4240.4.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-21262?
No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.
How is CVE-2026-21262 attacked?
It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-21262?
Check whether you run Microsoft Sql Server 2016, Microsoft Sql Server 2017, Microsoft Sql Server 2019 or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Technical details

An improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) exists in multiple versions of Microsoft SQL Server, including 2016 through 2025. The flaw allows an attacker who is already authenticated to the database instance to elevate their privileges via a network request. Successful exploitation grants the attacker high-level permissions (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability impacts are all rated High), potentially leading to full control over the database server. The vulnerability is reachable over the network and does not require user interaction, though it does require low-level 'User' permissions as a precondition. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across affected versions.

Affected products

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2016 13.0.6300.2 to 13.0.6480.4, 13.0.7000.253 to 13.0.7075.5
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2017 14.0.1000.169 to 14.0.2100.4, 14.0.3006.16 to 14.0.3520.4
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2019 15.0.2000.5 to 15.0.2160.4, 15.0.4003.23 to 15.0.4460.4
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2022 16.0.1000.6 to 16.0.1170.5, 16.0.4003.1 to 16.0.4240.4
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2025 17.0.1000.7 to 17.0.1105.2, 17.0.4006.2 to 17.0.4020.2

Timeline

  • 2026-03-10: disclosed
  • 2026-03-10: advisory

References

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