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major vulnerability· requires attention

RCE in Microsoft SQL Server — widely deployed enterprise database; successful exploit can disrupt many organisations and lead to data theft or lateral movement.

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CVE-2026-54117

8.8
High
EPSS 1%Patch availableJul 15, 2026

Authenticated deserialization RCE in Microsoft SQL Server enabling remote code execution.

common questions

Is CVE-2026-54117 being exploited?

Not confirmed. CVE-2026-54117 does not appear in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which records only exploitation that has been observed and reported publicly. That is evidence of absence of a report, not evidence the flaw is unattacked. EPSS currently estimates a 1.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How severe is CVE-2026-54117?

CVE-2026-54117 is rated High with a CVSS score of 8.8. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.

Is there a patch for CVE-2026-54117?

Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2026-54117. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.

What does CVE-2026-54117 affect?

CVE-2026-54117 affects Microsoft SQL Server (unspecified versions), On-premises SQL Server instances, SQL Server on cloud VMs. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.

What should I do about CVE-2026-54117?

Apply vendor patch when available; meanwhile restrict SQL access, enforce least privilege, and enable logging/monitoring.

Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.

executive summary
technical analysis
affected
Microsoft SQL Server (unspecified versions)On-premises SQL Server instancesSQL Server on cloud VMs
impact

Authenticated network RCE via deserialization; attacker can run code as SQL Server service account, access DBs and pivot internally.

action required

Immediate action required

affected versions
Microsoft Microsoft SQL Server 2025 (CU 6)
  • affected< 17.0.4060.2
Microsoft Microsoft SQL Server 2025 for x64-based Systems (GDR)
  • affected>= 17.0.1050.2 and < 17.0.1125.2

As published in the CVE Program record. A version outside these ranges is not a statement that it is unaffected — vendors sometimes understate a range, and distribution-backported builds carry upstream numbers that do not reflect what was patched into them.

how to fix
Remediation steps are tailored for users whose stack is affected. Add this technology to your stack to see the fix checklist.
references
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