SQL Server must restrict access to system tables, other configuration information, and metadata to DBAs and other authorized users.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-41044	SQL2-00-009400	SV-53419r5_rule		Medium

Description
The principle of Least Privilege must be applied to the ability of users to access system tables, system management information, other configuration information, and metadata. Unauthorized access to this data could result in unauthorized changes to database objects, access controls, or SQL Server configuration. Only database administrators and other authorized users must be allowed such access. To aid in tracking and administering such permissions, individual logins must not be directly granted permissions or built-in server roles. Instead, user-defined server roles must be created, with the permissions and built-in server roles granted to them; the individual logins must be assigned to the appropriate user-defined server roles. The built-in server role "sysadmin" is a partial exception. This cannot be granted to a user-defined role, only to a login account. Most (not necessarily all) database administrators will need to be members of sysadmin. Without this, most DBCC commands and the system stored procedures/functions listed below are unavailable. The users who require such access must be documented and approved. In addition, if the site uses backup-restore software that connects to SQL Server via the Virtual Device Interface (VDI), the account used by that software must have the sysadmin role. (See Microsoft Knowledge Base article 2926557, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2926557). If this applies, it must be documented and approved. Stored procedures/functions available only to the sysadmin role: fn_yukonsecuritymodelrequired sp_add_agent_parameter sp_add_agent_profile sp_adddatatype sp_adddistributiondb sp_adddistributor sp_addqreader_agent sp_addsubscriber sp_addsubscriber_schedule sp_addtabletocontents sp_attachsubscription sp_cdc_cleanup_change_table sp_cdc_disable_db sp_cdc_disable_table sp_cdc_drop_job sp_cdc_enable_db sp_cdc_enable_table sp_cdc_restoredb sp_cdc_vupgrade sp_certify_removable sp_change_agent_parameter sp_change_agent_profile sp_change_subscription_properties sp_change_users_login sp_changedistpublisher sp_changedistributiondb sp_changedistributor_password sp_changedistributor_property sp_changemergesubscription sp_changeqreader_agent sp_changereplicationserverpasswords sp_changesubscriptiondtsinfo sp_checkinvalidivarticle sp_copysubscription sp_create_removable sp_cycle_errorlog sp_dbcmptlevel sp_dbmmonitoraddmonitoring sp_dbmmonitorchangealert sp_dbmmonitordropalert sp_dbmmonitordropmonitoring sp_dbmmonitorhelpalert sp_dbmmonitorhelpmonitoring sp_dbmmonitorresults sp_dbmmonitorupdate sp_dbremove sp_drop_agent_parameter sp_drop_agent_profile sp_dropdatatypemapping sp_dropdistpublisher sp_dropdistributiondb sp_dropdistributor sp_dropmergepullsubscription sp_droppullsubscription sp_dropsubscriber sp_dsninfo sp_enumdsn sp_flush_commit_table_on_demand sp_generate_agent_parameter sp_get_distributor sp_get_Oracle_publisher_metadata sp_getagentparameterlist sp_getdefaultdatatypemapping sp_grant_publication_access sp_help_agent_default sp_help_agent_parameter sp_help_agent_profile sp_helpdistpublisher sp_helpdistributor sp_helpmergesubscription sp_helpqreader_agent sp_helpreplicationdboption sp_identitycolumnforreplication sp_IHValidateRowFilter sp_IHXactSetJob sp_link_publication sp_monitor sp_MSadd_distribution_agent sp_MSadd_logreader_agent sp_MSadd_merge_agent sp_MSadd_snapshot_agent sp_MSadd_subscriber_schedule sp_MSadd_tracer_history sp_MSadd_tracer_token sp_MScdc_cleanup_job sp_MScdc_db_ddl_event sp_MScdc_ddl_event sp_MSchange_distribution_agent_properties sp_MSchange_logreader_agent_properties sp_MSchange_merge_agent_properties sp_MSchange_snapshot_agent_properties sp_MSchangedynamicsnapshotjobatdistributor sp_MSchangedynsnaplocationatdistributor sp_MScheck_pull_access sp_MScleanupmergepublisher_internal sp_MSclear_dynamic_snapshot_location sp_MScreate_dist_tables sp_MSdbuserpriv sp_MSdeletefoldercontents sp_MSdrop_6x_replication_agent sp_MSdrop_merge_agent sp_MSdrop_snapshot_dirs sp_MSdropmergedynamicsnapshotjob sp_MSdynamicsnapshotjobexistsatdistributor sp_MSenumallpublications sp_MSfetchAdjustidentityrange sp_MSfix_6x_tasks sp_MSforce_drop_distribution_jobs sp_MSget_agent_names sp_MSget_jobstate sp_MSget_oledbinfo sp_MSget_publication_from_taskname sp_MSgetdbversion sp_MSgetmaxsnapshottimestamp sp_MShelp_repl_agent sp_MShelp_replication_status sp_MShelp_snapshot_agent sp_MShelpconflictpublications sp_MShelpdynamicsnapshotjobatdistributor sp_MShelplogreader_agent sp_MShelpsnapshot_agent sp_MShelptranconflictcounts sp_MSinit_publication_access sp_MSreinit_failed_subscriptions sp_MSremoveoffloadparameter sp_MSrepl_backup_complete sp_MSrepl_backup_start sp_MSrepl_createdatatypemappings sp_MSrepl_dropdatatypemappings sp_MSrepl_enumarticlecolumninfo sp_MSrepl_enumpublications sp_MSrepl_enumpublishertables sp_MSrepl_enumsubscriptions sp_MSrepl_enumtablecolumninfo sp_MSrepl_getdistributorinfo sp_MSrepl_startup_internal sp_MSreplagentjobexists sp_MSreplcheck_permission sp_MSreplcheck_pull sp_MSreplcheck_subscribe sp_MSreplcheck_subscribe_withddladmin sp_MSreplcopyscriptfile sp_MSreplremoveuncdir sp_MSsetalertinfo sp_MSSetServerProperties sp_MSsetupnosyncsubwithlsnatdist sp_MSsetupnosyncsubwithlsnatdist_cleanup sp_MSsetupnosyncsubwithlsnatdist_helper sp_MSstartdistribution_agent sp_MSstartmerge_agent sp_MSstartsnapshot_agent sp_MSstopdistribution_agent sp_MSstopmerge_agent sp_MSstopsnapshot_agent sp_MSupdate_agenttype_default sp_oledbinfo sp_procoption sp_removedbreplication sp_removesrvreplication sp_replication_agent_checkup sp_replicationdboption sp_resetstatus sp_restoredbreplication sp_SetAutoSAPasswordAndDisable sp_setdefaultdatatypemapping sp_updatestats sp_validatelogins sp_vupgrade_mergeobjects sp_vupgrade_replication sp_vupgrade_replsecurity_metadata xp_repl_convert_encrypt_sysadmin_wrapper

Description

The principle of Least Privilege must be applied to the ability of users to access system tables, system management information, other configuration information, and metadata. Unauthorized access to this data could result in unauthorized changes to database objects, access controls, or SQL Server configuration. Only database administrators and other authorized users must be allowed such access. To aid in tracking and administering such permissions, individual logins must not be directly granted permissions or built-in server roles. Instead, user-defined server roles must be created, with the permissions and built-in server roles granted to them; the individual logins must be assigned to the appropriate user-defined server roles. The built-in server role "sysadmin" is a partial exception. This cannot be granted to a user-defined role, only to a login account. Most (not necessarily all) database administrators will need to be members of sysadmin. Without this, most DBCC commands and the system stored procedures/functions listed below are unavailable. The users who require such access must be documented and approved. In addition, if the site uses backup-restore software that connects to SQL Server via the Virtual Device Interface (VDI), the account used by that software must have the sysadmin role. (See Microsoft Knowledge Base article 2926557, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2926557). If this applies, it must be documented and approved. Stored procedures/functions available only to the sysadmin role: fn_yukonsecuritymodelrequired sp_add_agent_parameter sp_add_agent_profile sp_adddatatype sp_adddistributiondb sp_adddistributor sp_addqreader_agent sp_addsubscriber sp_addsubscriber_schedule sp_addtabletocontents sp_attachsubscription sp_cdc_cleanup_change_table sp_cdc_disable_db sp_cdc_disable_table sp_cdc_drop_job sp_cdc_enable_db sp_cdc_enable_table sp_cdc_restoredb sp_cdc_vupgrade sp_certify_removable sp_change_agent_parameter sp_change_agent_profile sp_change_subscription_properties sp_change_users_login sp_changedistpublisher sp_changedistributiondb sp_changedistributor_password sp_changedistributor_property sp_changemergesubscription sp_changeqreader_agent sp_changereplicationserverpasswords sp_changesubscriptiondtsinfo sp_checkinvalidivarticle sp_copysubscription sp_create_removable sp_cycle_errorlog sp_dbcmptlevel sp_dbmmonitoraddmonitoring sp_dbmmonitorchangealert sp_dbmmonitordropalert sp_dbmmonitordropmonitoring sp_dbmmonitorhelpalert sp_dbmmonitorhelpmonitoring sp_dbmmonitorresults sp_dbmmonitorupdate sp_dbremove sp_drop_agent_parameter sp_drop_agent_profile sp_dropdatatypemapping sp_dropdistpublisher sp_dropdistributiondb sp_dropdistributor sp_dropmergepullsubscription sp_droppullsubscription sp_dropsubscriber sp_dsninfo sp_enumdsn sp_flush_commit_table_on_demand sp_generate_agent_parameter sp_get_distributor sp_get_Oracle_publisher_metadata sp_getagentparameterlist sp_getdefaultdatatypemapping sp_grant_publication_access sp_help_agent_default sp_help_agent_parameter sp_help_agent_profile sp_helpdistpublisher sp_helpdistributor sp_helpmergesubscription sp_helpqreader_agent sp_helpreplicationdboption sp_identitycolumnforreplication sp_IHValidateRowFilter sp_IHXactSetJob sp_link_publication sp_monitor sp_MSadd_distribution_agent sp_MSadd_logreader_agent sp_MSadd_merge_agent sp_MSadd_snapshot_agent sp_MSadd_subscriber_schedule sp_MSadd_tracer_history sp_MSadd_tracer_token sp_MScdc_cleanup_job sp_MScdc_db_ddl_event sp_MScdc_ddl_event sp_MSchange_distribution_agent_properties sp_MSchange_logreader_agent_properties sp_MSchange_merge_agent_properties sp_MSchange_snapshot_agent_properties sp_MSchangedynamicsnapshotjobatdistributor sp_MSchangedynsnaplocationatdistributor sp_MScheck_pull_access sp_MScleanupmergepublisher_internal sp_MSclear_dynamic_snapshot_location sp_MScreate_dist_tables sp_MSdbuserpriv sp_MSdeletefoldercontents sp_MSdrop_6x_replication_agent sp_MSdrop_merge_agent sp_MSdrop_snapshot_dirs sp_MSdropmergedynamicsnapshotjob sp_MSdynamicsnapshotjobexistsatdistributor sp_MSenumallpublications sp_MSfetchAdjustidentityrange sp_MSfix_6x_tasks sp_MSforce_drop_distribution_jobs sp_MSget_agent_names sp_MSget_jobstate sp_MSget_oledbinfo sp_MSget_publication_from_taskname sp_MSgetdbversion sp_MSgetmaxsnapshottimestamp sp_MShelp_repl_agent sp_MShelp_replication_status sp_MShelp_snapshot_agent sp_MShelpconflictpublications sp_MShelpdynamicsnapshotjobatdistributor sp_MShelplogreader_agent sp_MShelpsnapshot_agent sp_MShelptranconflictcounts sp_MSinit_publication_access sp_MSreinit_failed_subscriptions sp_MSremoveoffloadparameter sp_MSrepl_backup_complete sp_MSrepl_backup_start sp_MSrepl_createdatatypemappings sp_MSrepl_dropdatatypemappings sp_MSrepl_enumarticlecolumninfo sp_MSrepl_enumpublications sp_MSrepl_enumpublishertables sp_MSrepl_enumsubscriptions sp_MSrepl_enumtablecolumninfo sp_MSrepl_getdistributorinfo sp_MSrepl_startup_internal sp_MSreplagentjobexists sp_MSreplcheck_permission sp_MSreplcheck_pull sp_MSreplcheck_subscribe sp_MSreplcheck_subscribe_withddladmin sp_MSreplcopyscriptfile sp_MSreplremoveuncdir sp_MSsetalertinfo sp_MSSetServerProperties sp_MSsetupnosyncsubwithlsnatdist sp_MSsetupnosyncsubwithlsnatdist_cleanup sp_MSsetupnosyncsubwithlsnatdist_helper sp_MSstartdistribution_agent sp_MSstartmerge_agent sp_MSstartsnapshot_agent sp_MSstopdistribution_agent sp_MSstopmerge_agent sp_MSstopsnapshot_agent sp_MSupdate_agenttype_default sp_oledbinfo sp_procoption sp_removedbreplication sp_removesrvreplication sp_replication_agent_checkup sp_replicationdboption sp_resetstatus sp_restoredbreplication sp_SetAutoSAPasswordAndDisable sp_setdefaultdatatypemapping sp_updatestats sp_validatelogins sp_vupgrade_mergeobjects sp_vupgrade_replication sp_vupgrade_replsecurity_metadata xp_repl_convert_encrypt_sysadmin_wrapper

STIG	Date
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Database Instance Security Technical Implementation Guide	2017-12-01

Details

Check Text ( C-47661r8_chk )
Use SQL Server and system documentation to determine privilege assignment of user-defined roles. Determine which user-defined roles grant privileges to system tables and configuration data stored in SQL Server. For each Login: In SQL Server Management Studio, Object Explorer, expand >> Security >> Logins >> Right-click >> Properties >> User >> Securables. If any item in the Explicit Permissions listing, for each highlighted item that exists in the Securables listing, indicates direct permission access, and that permission is anything other than Connect SQL, this is a finding. Navigate from Securables to Server Roles. If any Server Roles are checked from the following list, indicating direct permission access, this is a finding: bulkadmin dbcreator diskadmin processadmin securityadmin serveradmin setupadmin If the sysadmin server role is checked, review system documentation to determine whether this login's need for the sysadmin role is documented and approved. If it is not, this is a finding. If any user-defined server roles with system table or configuration data privileges are checked, review system documentation to determine whether this login's need for the role is documented and approved. If it is not, this is a finding. Navigate from Server Roles to User Mapping. Select in turn each entry where the User column is non-blank. If any Database Roles are checked from the following list, indicating direct permission access, this is a finding: db_accessadmin db_backupoperator db_datareader db_datawriter db_ddladmin db_denydatareader db_denydatawriter db_owner db_securityadmin

Check Text ( C-47661r8_chk )

Use SQL Server and system documentation to determine privilege assignment of user-defined roles.

Determine which user-defined roles grant privileges to system tables and configuration data stored in SQL Server.

For each Login:

In SQL Server Management Studio, Object Explorer, expand >> Security >> Logins >> Right-click >> Properties >> User >> Securables.

If any item in the Explicit Permissions listing, for each highlighted item that exists in the Securables listing, indicates direct permission access, and that permission is anything other than Connect SQL, this is a finding.

Navigate from Securables to Server Roles.

If any Server Roles are checked from the following list, indicating direct permission access, this is a finding:
bulkadmin
dbcreator
diskadmin
processadmin
securityadmin
serveradmin
setupadmin

If the sysadmin server role is checked, review system documentation to determine whether this login's need for the sysadmin role is documented and approved. If it is not, this is a finding.

If any user-defined server roles with system table or configuration data privileges are checked, review system documentation to determine whether this login's need for the role is documented and approved. If it is not, this is a finding.

Navigate from Server Roles to User Mapping. Select in turn each entry where the User column is non-blank. If any Database Roles are checked from the following list, indicating direct permission access, this is a finding:
db_accessadmin
db_backupoperator
db_datareader
db_datawriter
db_ddladmin
db_denydatareader
db_denydatawriter
db_owner
db_securityadmin

Fix Text (F-46343r5_fix)
If necessary memberships in the sysadmin role are not documented or not approved, document them and obtain approval. If unnecessary memberships in the sysadmin role are documented, remove them from the documentation. Remove all direct access permissions and unauthorized permissions as required using the below instructions: In SQL Server Management Studio, Object Explorer, expand >> Security >> Logins >> Right-click >> Properties >> User >> Securables. Remove Securables permissions from user account. Navigate from Securables to Server Roles. Remove Server Roles permissions from user account. Navigate from Server Roles to Users Mapping. Remove direct permissions on db_accessadmin, db_backupoperator, db_datareader, db_datawriter, db_ddladmin, db_denydatareader, db_denydatawriter, db_owner, and db_securityadmin from user account.

Fix Text (F-46343r5_fix)

If necessary memberships in the sysadmin role are not documented or not approved, document them and obtain approval.

If unnecessary memberships in the sysadmin role are documented, remove them from the documentation.

Remove all direct access permissions and unauthorized permissions as required using the below instructions:

In SQL Server Management Studio, Object Explorer, expand >> Security >> Logins >> Right-click >> Properties >> User >> Securables.

Remove Securables permissions from user account.

Navigate from Securables to Server Roles.

Remove Server Roles permissions from user account.

Navigate from Server Roles to Users Mapping.

Remove direct permissions on db_accessadmin, db_backupoperator, db_datareader, db_datawriter, db_ddladmin, db_denydatareader, db_denydatawriter, db_owner, and db_securityadmin from user account.