CVE-2024-29043 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Microsoft SQL Server 2022, specifically in the ODBC Driver component for version 16.0.0 (CU 12). The vulnerability is classified as a Use After Free (CWE-416) flaw, which occurs when the software continues to use memory after it has been freed. This can lead to unpredictable behavior, including remote code execution (RCE). The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely by sending specially crafted requests to the SQL Server via the ODBC Driver. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable component. The vulnerability can lead to full compromise of the affected SQL Server instance, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data theft, data manipulation, or service disruption. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of a critical RCE vulnerability in a widely deployed database platform necessitates urgent attention. The vulnerability was published on April 9, 2024, and is recognized by CISA as enriched intelligence, indicating its significance in the cybersecurity community. No official patches or mitigation links are provided yet, which may delay immediate remediation efforts.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-29043 could be severe due to the widespread use of Microsoft SQL Server 2022 in enterprise environments, including financial institutions, government agencies, healthcare providers, and critical infrastructure operators. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of business-critical applications, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, organizations could face data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), operational downtime, and reputational damage. The requirement for user interaction slightly reduces the risk of automated mass exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks, especially spear-phishing or social engineering campaigns aimed at privileged users or database administrators. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a small window for proactive defense, but the vulnerability’s nature and severity suggest it could become a favored target for threat actors once exploit code becomes available.

1. Immediate assessment of all Microsoft SQL Server 2022 instances to identify those running version 16.0.0 (CU 12) and the vulnerable ODBC Driver. 2. Implement network-level controls to restrict access to SQL Server instances, limiting exposure to trusted internal networks and VPNs only. 3. Employ application-layer firewalls or SQL Server-specific security appliances to detect and block anomalous or malformed ODBC traffic. 4. Enforce strict user interaction policies, including training for database administrators and users to recognize and avoid suspicious prompts or requests that could trigger exploitation. 5. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected ODBC connection patterns or process anomalies on SQL Server hosts. 6. Prepare for rapid deployment of official patches once released by Microsoft; consider temporary mitigations such as disabling or restricting ODBC Driver usage if feasible without disrupting business operations. 7. Conduct penetration testing and vulnerability scanning focused on SQL Server environments to identify potential exploitation vectors. 8. Review and tighten least privilege principles for SQL Server accounts and service accounts to minimize impact if exploitation occurs.