MSSQLand – Lightweight MS-SQL Interaction Tool for Lateral Movement and Post-Exploitation

Summary

MSSQLand is a lightweight .NET Framework 4.8 utility designed for red teams to interact with Microsoft SQL Server instances and traverse linked databases in restricted environments without complex T-SQL queries. The tool automates lateral movement across SQL Server chains, supports user impersonation for privilege escalation, and integrates with C2 frameworks like Cobalt Strike and Havoc. Released in March 2026, it fills a gap in post-exploitation workflows by enabling operators to pivot through linked instances and exploit Configuration Manager (SCCM) deployments with minimal OPSEC footprint.

Full text

MSSQLand is a .NET Framework 4.8 utility designed for interacting with Microsoft SQL Server database management systems during red team operations and security audits. Built for constrained environments where operations must be executed directly through beacons using assembly execution, the tool enables operators to traverse linked SQL Server instances, impersonate users, and execute actions without needing complex Transact-SQL (T-SQL) queries. The project was released in March 2026 and fills a critical gap in SQL Server post-exploitation workflows where traditional database tools are unavailable or impractical. <img decoding="async" width="640" height="349" src="https://www.darknet.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MSSQLand-Lightweight-MS-SQL-Interaction-Tool-for-Lateral-Movement-and-Post-Exploitation-640x349.png" alt="MSSQLand - Lightweight MS-SQL Interaction Tool for Lateral Movement and Post-Exploitation" class="wp-image-224789" srcset="https://www.darknet.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MSSQLand-Lightweight-MS-SQL-Interaction-Tool-for-Lateral-Movement-and-Post-Exploitation-640x349.png 640w, https://www.darknet.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MSSQLand-Lightweight-MS-SQL-Interaction-Tool-for-Lateral-Movement-and-Post-Exploitation-1024x558.png 1024w, https://www.darknet.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MSSQLand-Lightweight-MS-SQL-Interaction-Tool-for-Lateral-Movement-and-Post-Exploitation-1536x837.png 1536w, https://www.darknet.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MSSQLand-Lightweight-MS-SQL-Interaction-Tool-for-Lateral-Movement-and-Post-Exploitation-2048x1115.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /> Unlike SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Python-based tools like mssqlclient-ng, MSSQLand is optimized for lateral movement scenarios where an operator already has initial SQL Server access but needs to pivot through linked instances or escalate privileges via impersonation. The tool automates the tedious process of manually crafting Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and OPENQUERY statements across linked server chains, allowing red teams to focus on execution rather than syntax debugging. Features Linked server chain traversal with automatic OPENQUERY and RPC Out handling for multi-hop SQL Server scenarios User impersonation via EXECUTE AS USER to escalate privileges within database contexts without needing system-level permissions Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) support for exploiting and enumerating Microsoft Configuration Manager deployments (formerly known as SCCM/MECM) Connection testing mode that validates credentials without executing queries, ideal for a minimal OPSEC footprint during reconnaissance Clean Markdown-compatible output tables suitable for direct paste into engagement reports and documentation CSV export format option for automated processing and integration with other toolchains Assembly execution ready, built with Cobalt Strike, Havoc, Sliver, and other C2 frameworks in mind Multiple authentication methods, including Windows authentication, SQL Server authentication, and Kerberos tickets (via external tools) Installation MSSQLand is distributed as a pre-compiled Windows executable. Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page and transfer the executable to your target environment or beacon working directory. # Download from GitHub Releases # https://github.com/n3rada/MSSQLand/releases # For operators compiling from source # Requires Visual Studio with .NET Framework 4.8 SDK git clone https://github.com/n3rada/MSSQLand.git cd MSSQLand # Open MSSQLand.sln in Visual Studio and build for x64 Release The tool is designed for assembly execution from C2 frameworks. No installation or registration is required on the target system, making it suitable for operations in restricted or monitored environments. Usage This repository does not provide a global --help flag in the traditional sense. The following usage information is reproduced verbatim from the README and GitHub documentation. MSSQLand.exe <host> [options] <action> [action-options] # Connection test only (no action executed) MSSQLand.exe localhost -c token # Execute specific action MSSQLand.exe localhost -c token info MSSQLand.exe localhost:1434@db03 -c token info # Linked server chain traversal # Format: server:port/user@database or any combination # Semicolon (;) separates servers, forward slash (/) specifies impersonation MSSQLand.exe localhost -c token -l SQL01;SQL02/admin;SQL03@clients info # Configuration Manager actions (cm- prefix) MSSQLand.exe sccm-db.corp -c token cm-devices MSSQLand.exe sccm-db.corp -c token cm-scripts # CSV output for automation MSSQLand.exe localhost -c token --format csv --silent procedures > procedures.csv The tool supports flexible host specification, including optional port numbers (default 1433), user impersonation contexts, and database contexts. Linked server chains use semicolon separators and support bracket notation for server names containing delimiter characters. Port specification only applies to the initial host connection; linked servers use configured names from sys.servers. For detailed action-specific help, use the -h flag with a search term or append -h to an action name. For example, MSSQLand.exe -h adsi shows all Active Directory Services Interface-related actions, while MSSQLand.exe localhost -c token createuser -h displays detailed help for the createuser action. Attack Scenario A red team operator gains access to a Windows system during an assumed-breach engagement. The operator discovers that the compromised user account has SQL Server authentication credentials stored in a configuration file. The target environment uses linked SQL Server instances across multiple tiers (web database server, application database server, reporting database server) with trust relationships configured between them. Traditional lateral movement paths via SMB or WinRM are heavily monitored, but database connections are considered normal administrative activity and generate minimal alerts. The operator loads MSSQLand via Cobalt Strike beacon assembly execution and performs a connection test to validate credentials without triggering database audit logs. The test confirms access to the web tier database server. Using the info action, the operator enumerates linked servers and discovers that the web tier server has an RPC Out trust configured to the application tier server, which in turn links to a reporting server with elevated privileges. The operator constructs a linked server chain using the -l flag, specifying SQL01;SQL02;SQL03, and executes commands through the chain without needing to manually craft nested OPENQUERY statements. From the reporting server context, the operator discovers a Configuration Manager database. Using MSSQLand’s cm- prefixed actions, the operator enumerates managed devices, scripts, and deployment packages. The cm-devices action reveals high-value targets, including domain controllers and executive workstations. The operator extracts device records, identifies targets with recent check-in timestamps, and uses the information to prioritize next-stage objectives. The entire reconnaissance and lateral movement phase completes without generating suspicious PowerShell or WMI events, as all activity flows through legitimate SQL Server protocols. Red Team Relevance SQL Server lateral movement remains underexploited in many red team engagements despite its prevalence in enterprise environments. Linked server trust relationships frequently span security boundaries, allowing operators to pivot from low-privilege web application databases to highly privileged reporting or Configuration Manager instances. MSSQLand removes the primary friction point in SQL Server post-exploitation: the need to manually construct and debug nested T-SQL queries while operating through a beacon or constrained shell. The tool’s assembly execution design makes it particularly valuable for C2 frameworks where interactive conso

Indicators of Compromise

• url — https://github.com/n3rada/MSSQLand/releases
• url — https://github.com/n3rada/MSSQLand.git