SQL Server software installation account must be restricted to authorized users.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-213952	SQL6-D0-006700	SV-213952r879586_rule		High

Description
When dealing with change control issues, it should be noted any changes to the hardware, software, and/or firmware components of the information system and/or application can have significant effects on the overall security of the system. If the system were to allow any user to make changes to software libraries, then those changes might be implemented without undergoing the appropriate testing and approvals that are part of a robust change management process. Accordingly, only qualified and authorized individuals must be allowed access to information system components for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications. DBA and other privileged administrative or application owner accounts are granted privileges that allow actions that can have a great impact on SQL Server security and operation. It is especially important to grant privileged access to only those persons who are qualified and authorized to use them.

Description

When dealing with change control issues, it should be noted any changes to the hardware, software, and/or firmware components of the information system and/or application can have significant effects on the overall security of the system. If the system were to allow any user to make changes to software libraries, then those changes might be implemented without undergoing the appropriate testing and approvals that are part of a robust change management process. Accordingly, only qualified and authorized individuals must be allowed access to information system components for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications. DBA and other privileged administrative or application owner accounts are granted privileges that allow actions that can have a great impact on SQL Server security and operation. It is especially important to grant privileged access to only those persons who are qualified and authorized to use them.

STIG	Date
MS SQL Server 2016 Instance Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-06-01

Details

Check Text ( C-15169r822455_chk )
From the system documentation, obtain the list of accounts authorized to install/update SQL Server. Run the following PowerShell command to list all users who have installed/modified SQL Server 2016 software and compare the list against those persons who are qualified and authorized to use the software. sl "C:\program files\microsoft sql server\130\setup bootstrap\Log" Get-ChildItem -Recurse \| Select-String -Pattern "LogonUser = " If any accounts are shown that are not authorized in the system documentation, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-15169r822455_chk )

From the system documentation, obtain the list of accounts authorized to install/update SQL Server. Run the following PowerShell command to list all users who have installed/modified SQL Server 2016 software and compare the list against those persons who are qualified and authorized to use the software.

sl "C:\program files\microsoft sql server\130\setup bootstrap\Log"
Get-ChildItem -Recurse | Select-String -Pattern "LogonUser = "

If any accounts are shown that are not authorized in the system documentation, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15167r822456_fix)
From a command prompt, open lusrmgr.msc. Navigate to Users and right-click Individual User. Select Properties >> Member Of. Configure SQL Server and OS settings and access controls to restrict user access to objects and data that the user is authorized to view/use.