MediumSplunk security content Michael Haag +2

Windows SQL Server Critical Procedures Enabled

Description

This detection identifies when critical SQL Server configuration options are modified, including "Ad Hoc Distributed Queries", "external scripts enabled", "Ole Automation Procedures", "clr enabled", and "clr strict security". These features can be abused by attackers for various malicious purposes - Ad Hoc Distributed Queries enables Active Directory reconnaissance through ADSI provider, external scripts and Ole Automation allow execution of arbitrary code, and CLR features can be used to run custom assemblies. Enabling these features could indicate attempts to gain code execution or perform reconnaissance through SQL Server.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform: Linux Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
Log source category: windows_event_log_application_15457

Known benign triggers

Database administrators may legitimately enable these features for valid business purposes such as cross-database queries, custom CLR assemblies, automation scripts, or application requirements. To reduce false positives, document when these features are required, monitor for unauthorized changes, create change control procedures for configuration modifications, and consider alerting on the enabled state rather than configuration changes if preferred.

References

Links the source published beside this detection. Reference is the link the source wrote, unmodified. Class is decided by this catalogue from the host and path, not stated by the source. Cited by counts published detections citing the same resource, including this one, and the sources beneath it count the repositories this catalogue ingests, which is not the same as independent research.
Reference	Class	Cited by
attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1505/001/	Taxonomy	5from 2 sources
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/ad-hoc-distributed-queries-server-configuration-option	Product documentation	Only this detection cites it
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/clr-enabled-server-configuration-option	Product documentation	Only this detection cites it
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/external-scripts-enabled-server-configuration-option	Product documentation	Only this detection cites it
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/ole-automation-procedures-server-configuration-option	Product documentation	Only this detection cites it
www.netspi.com/blog/technical-blog/adversary-simulation/attacking-sql-server-clr-assemblies/	Unclassified	Only this detection cites it
www.netspi.com/blog/technical/network-penetration-testing/enumerating-domain-accounts-via-sql-server-using-adsi/	Unclassified	Only this detection cites it

Detection rules

Windows SQL Server Critical Procedures Enabled

Description

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Known benign triggers

MITRE ATT&CK mappings

References

From the source

Licence

Authorship

Detection rules