I've spent some time working with Metasploit for penetration testing, particularly with Microsoft SQL Server, and I'd be happy to share what I've learned from both my experiences and the wider security community.
Key Modules or Exploits:
Within Metasploit, the auxiliary/scanner/mssql/mssql_login module is a classic for brute-force login attempts. It's important because weak credentials are a surprisingly common vulnerability. Additionally, the exploit/windows/mssql/mssql_payload and exploit/windows/mssql/mssql_payload_sqli modules are useful for executing payloads once you've got access. Also, the auxiliary/admin/mssql/mssql_exec module allows command execution via SQL queries, which can be powerful if executed ethically and with permission.
Common Vulnerabilities:
MSSQL databases can be prone to issues like poor password policies, lack of encryption, and excessive permissions. Metasploit can help identify these through its modules that scan for misconfigurations and weak passwords. Always keep an eye on SQL injection vulnerabilities and unpatched software, which can be major entry points.
Configuring Metasploit:
To connect Metasploit smoothly to MSSQL, ensure that you have the correct network configurations, such as open ports and correct IP addresses. Metasploit interacts with MSSQL over the default port 1433, so double-check your firewall settings. For authentication, using valid credentials is key, so focus on gathering those beforehand, possibly using social engineering or reconnaissance.
Ethical and Legal Compliance:
The foundation of any penetration test is explicit permission from the system owner. This can't be overstated. Define the scope clearly to all parties involved to avoid legal issues and ensure all actions are specifically covered. Documentation is essential; maintain detailed records of all tests and actions taken.
For additional reading, the book "Metasploit: The Penetration Tester's Guide" by David Kennedy et al. is an excellent resource for practical insights. You might also find "SQL Server Security" by K. Scott Allen of Pluralsight useful for understanding database-specific concerns.
Given the nuanced nature of MSSQL security and penetration testing, have you encountered any particular challenges or scenarios that were hard to navigate? I'd be interested to hear how others approach those specific situations.