CVE-2025-49759 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, commonly known as SQL Injection) affecting Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (GDR), specifically version 14.0.0. This vulnerability arises due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within SQL commands, allowing an attacker with authorized network access and low privileges to inject malicious SQL code. The injected commands can manipulate the database engine to escalate privileges, potentially granting the attacker administrative control over the SQL Server instance. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by enabling unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, and possibly disrupting database services. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the high severity, with an attack vector over the network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N), and resulting in high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a critical concern. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on August 12, 2025, with no patch links yet available, indicating that organizations must prepare interim defenses. SQL Server 2017 remains widely used in enterprise environments, making this vulnerability relevant to many organizations globally, including Europe.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be severe. SQL Server 2017 is commonly used in critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and manufacturing, where databases hold sensitive personal, financial, and operational data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data tampering, or complete loss of data availability, severely disrupting business operations and causing regulatory compliance issues under GDPR. Privilege escalation could allow attackers to move laterally within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. The network-based attack vector means that exposed SQL Server instances accessible over corporate networks or the internet are at heightened risk. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation, but the high severity score indicates that rapid response is essential to prevent potential attacks. The reputational damage and financial losses from data breaches or downtime could be significant for European enterprises.

1. Apply official patches from Microsoft immediately once they become available for SQL Server 2017 (GDR) version 14.0.0 to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Until patches are released, restrict network access to SQL Server instances by implementing strict firewall rules, allowing connections only from trusted hosts and networks. 3. Employ network segmentation to isolate database servers from general user networks and the internet. 4. Review and harden database user privileges, ensuring the principle of least privilege is enforced to limit the impact of any compromised account. 5. Implement input validation and use parameterized queries or stored procedures in all applications interacting with SQL Server to prevent SQL injection. 6. Monitor SQL Server logs and network traffic for unusual or suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans focused on database servers. 8. Educate developers and database administrators on secure coding and configuration practices to reduce injection risks. 9. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or database activity monitoring tools that can detect and block SQL injection attempts in real time.