SQL Server Replication Xps feature must be disabled, unless specifically required and approved.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214043	SQL6-D0-017900	SV-214043r879587_rule		Medium

Description
SQL Server is capable of providing a wide range of features and services. Some of the features and services, provided by default, may not be necessary, and enabling them could adversely affect the security of the system. Enabling the replication XPs opens a significant attack surface area that can be used by an attacker to gather information about the system and potentially abuse the privileges of SQL Server.

Description

SQL Server is capable of providing a wide range of features and services. Some of the features and services, provided by default, may not be necessary, and enabling them could adversely affect the security of the system. Enabling the replication XPs opens a significant attack surface area that can be used by an attacker to gather information about the system and potentially abuse the privileges of SQL Server.

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

Details

Check Text ( C-15260r313912_chk )
To determine if the "Replication Xps" option is enabled, execute the following query: EXEC SP_CONFIGURE 'show advanced options', '1'; RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE; EXEC SP_CONFIGURE 'replication xps'; If the value of "config_value" is "0", this is not a finding. If the value of "config_value" is "1", review the system documentation to determine whether the use of "Replication Xps" is required and authorized. If it is not authorized, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-15260r313912_chk )

To determine if the "Replication Xps" option is enabled, execute the following query:

EXEC SP_CONFIGURE 'show advanced options', '1';
RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE;
EXEC SP_CONFIGURE 'replication xps';

If the value of "config_value" is "0", this is not a finding.

If the value of "config_value" is "1", review the system documentation to determine whether the use of "Replication Xps" is required and authorized. If it is not authorized, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15258r313913_fix)
Disable use of or remove any external application executable object definitions that are not authorized. To disable the use of "Replication Xps" option, from the query prompt: sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1; GO RECONFIGURE; GO sp_configure 'replication xps', 0; GO RECONFIGURE; GO