The SQL Server default account [sa] must be disabled.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-214028 | SQL6-D0-016200 | SV-214028r960792_rule | CCI-000213 | high |
| Description | ||||
| SQL Server's [sa] account has special privileges required to administer the database. The [sa] account is a well-known SQL Server account and is likely to be targeted by attackers and thus more prone to providing unauthorized access to the database. This [sa] default account is administrative and could lead to catastrophic consequences, including the complete loss of control over SQL Server. If the [sa] default account is not disabled, an attacker might be able to gain access through the account. SQL Server by default disables the [sa] account at installation. Some applications that run on SQL Server require the [sa] account to be enabled for the application to function properly. These applications that require the [sa] account to be enabled are usually legacy systems. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| MS SQL Server 2016 Instance Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-06-11 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-214028r960792_chk)
Check SQL Server settings to determine if the [sa] (system administrator) account has been disabled by executing the following query:
USE master;
GO
SELECT name, is_disabled
FROM sys.sql_logins
WHERE principal_id = 1;
GO
Verify that the "name" column contains the current name of the [sa] database server account.
If the "is_disabled" column is not set to "1", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-15243r313868_fix)
Modify the enabled flag of SQL Server's [sa] (system administrator) account by running the following script.
USE master;
GO
ALTER LOGIN [sa] DISABLE;
GO