Malicious SQL SA Admin User Enabled (via application)
- Product
- mssql
- Category
- application
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-06-25
- Updated
- 2026-08-28
ATT&CK techniques
PersistenceRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects enables the disabled (recommended) SA admin account on the SQL Server instance.
Reporting behind it
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1136/
- stigviewer.comhttps://www.stigviewer.com/stig/microsoft_sql_server_2012_database_instance/2017-12-01/finding/V-40936
- ultimatewindowssecurity.comhttps://www.ultimatewindowssecurity.com/sqlserver/auditlog/sampleevent.aspx
- docs.microsoft.comhttps://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/security/auditing/sql-server-audit-action-groups-and-actions?view=sql-server-2017
- sqlshack.comhttps://www.sqlshack.com/various-techniques-to-audit-sql-server-databases/
- sqlquantumleap.comhttps://sqlquantumleap.com/reference/server-audit-filter-values-for-action_id/
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
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