SQL Server cross DB ownership chaining enabled

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Metadata

Id: b2d5f3c9-1e68-47a1-89b4-92f3a6d7e123

Cloud Provider: gcp

Framework: Terraform

Severity: High

Category: Insecure Configurations

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Description

Cross-database ownership chaining allows users to access objects across databases without requiring separate permissions for each database, creating a potential privilege escalation vulnerability. When enabled, an attacker with access to one database might exploit ownership chains to gain unauthorized access to data in other linked databases, bypassing normal permission boundaries. To secure your SQL Server instance, configure the cross db ownership chaining database flag to off as shown in the following example:

settings {
  database_flags {
    name  = "cross db ownership chaining"
    value = "off"
  }
}

Compliant Code Examples

resource "google_sql_database_instance" "good_example" {
  name             = "good-instance"
  database_version = "SQLSERVER_2019_STANDARD"
  region           = "us-central1"

  settings {
    tier = "db-custom-2-13312"
    database_flags {
      name  = "cross db ownership chaining"
      value = "off" # ✅ Compliant
    }
  }
}

Non-Compliant Code Examples

resource "google_sql_database_instance" "bad_example" {
  name             = "bad-instance"
  database_version = "SQLSERVER_2019_STANDARD"
  region           = "us-central1"

  settings {
    tier = "db-custom-2-13312"
    database_flags {
      name  = "cross db ownership chaining"
      value = "on"
    }
  }
}