CVE-2026-21262: SQL Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Severity: high (CVSS 8.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 2.1% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-03-10 · updated 2026-07-10
Weakness: CWE-284

Description

Improper access control in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

Affected products

Microsoft Sql Server 2016: from 13.0.6300.2 before 13.0.6480.4; from 13.0.7000.253 before 13.0.7075.5 — fixed in 13.0.6480.4, 13.0.7075.5
Microsoft Sql Server 2017: from 14.0.1000.169 before 14.0.2100.4; from 14.0.3006.16 before 14.0.3520.4 — fixed in 14.0.2100.4, 14.0.3520.4
Microsoft Sql Server 2019: from 15.0.2000.5 before 15.0.2160.4; from 15.0.4003.23 before 15.0.4460.4 — fixed in 15.0.2160.4, 15.0.4460.4
Microsoft Sql Server 2022: from 16.0.1000.6 before 16.0.1170.5; from 16.0.4003.1 before 16.0.4240.4 — fixed in 16.0.1170.5, 16.0.4240.4
Microsoft Sql Server 2025: from 17.0.1000.7 before 17.0.1105.2; from 17.0.4006.2 before 17.0.4020.2 — fixed in 17.0.1105.2, 17.0.4020.2
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3 Azure Connect Feature Pack: from 13.0.0 before 13.0.7075.5 — fixed in 13.0.7075.5
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3 (GDR): from 13.0.0 before 13.0.6480.4 — fixed in 13.0.6480.4
Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (CU 31): from 14.0.0 before 14.0.3520.4 — fixed in 14.0.3520.4
Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (GDR): from 14.0.0 before 14.0.2100.4 — fixed in 14.0.2100.4
Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (CU 32): from 15.0.0.0 before 15.0.4460.4 — fixed in 15.0.4460.4
Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (GDR): from 15.0.0 before 15.0.2160.4 — fixed in 15.0.2160.4
Microsoft SQL Server 2022 for x64-based Systems (CU 23): from 16.0.0.0 before 16.0.4240.4 — fixed in 16.0.4240.4
Microsoft SQL Server 2022 (GDR): from 16.0.0 before 16.0.1170.5 — fixed in 16.0.1170.5
Microsoft SQL Server 2025 (CU 2): from 17.0.0.0 before 17.0.4020.2 — fixed in 17.0.4020.2
Microsoft SQL Server 2025 for x64-based Systems (GDR): from 17.0.1050.2 before 17.0.1105.2 — fixed in 17.0.1105.2

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Microsoft Sql Server 2016 13.0.6480.4, 13.0.7075.5; Microsoft Sql Server 2017 14.0.2100.4, 14.0.3520.4; Microsoft Sql Server 2019 15.0.2160.4, 15.0.4460.4; Microsoft Sql Server 2022 16.0.1170.5, 16.0.4240.4; Microsoft Sql Server 2025 17.0.1105.2, 17.0.4020.2; Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3 Azure Connect Feature Pack 13.0.7075.5; Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3 (GDR) 13.0.6480.4; Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (CU 31) 14.0.3520.4; Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (GDR) 14.0.2100.4; Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (CU 32) 15.0.4460.4; Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (GDR) 15.0.2160.4; Microsoft SQL Server 2022 for x64-based Systems (CU 23) 16.0.4240.4. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21262

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