Evil SQL Client Console: Msbuild All the Things

Evil SQL Client (ESC) is an interactive .NET SQL console client that supports enhanced SQL Server discovery, access, and data exfiltration capabilities. While ESC can be a handy SQL Client for daily tasks, it was originally designed for targeting SQL Servers during penetration tests and red team engagements. The intent of the project is to provide an .exe, but also sample files for execution through mediums like msbuild and PowerShell.

This blog will provide a quick overview of the tool. For those who just want the code, it can be downloaded from https://github.com/NetSPI/ESC.

Why another SQL Server attack client?

PowerUpSQL and DAFT (A fantastic .net port of PowerUpSQL written by Alexander Leary) are great tool sets, but during red team engagements they can be a little too visible.  So to stay under the radar we initially we created a series of standalone .net functions that could be executed via alternative mediums like msbuild inline tasks.  Following that, we had a few clients request to exfiltrate data from the SQL Server using similar evasion techniques.  So we created the Evil SQL Client console to help make the testing process faster and the report screenshots easier to understand 🙂 .

Summary of Executions Options

The Evil SQL Client console and functions can be run via:

• Esc.exe  Esc.exe is the original application created in visual studio.
• Esc.csproj is a msbuild script that loads .net code directly through inline tasks. This technique was researched and popularized by Casey Smith (@subTee).  There is a nice article on detection worth reading by Steve Cooper (@BleepSec)  here.
• Esc.xml is also a msbuild script that uses inline tasks, but it loads the actual esc.exe assembly through reflection.  This technique was shared by @bohops in his GhostBuild project.  It also leverages work done by @mattifestation.
• Esc-example.ps1 PowerShell script: Loads esc.exe through reflection.  This specific script was generated using Out-CompressDll by @mattifestation.

Below is a simple screenshot of the the Evil SQL Client console executed via esc.exe:

Below is a simple screenshot of the the Evil SQL Client console being executed through MSBuild:

Summary of Features/Commands

At the moment, ESC does not have full feature parity with the PowerUpSQL or DAFT, but the most useful bits are there. Below is a summary of the features that do exist.

Discovery	Access	Gather	Escalate	Exfil
Discover file	Check access	Single instance query	Check loginaspw	Set File
Discover domainspn	Check defaultpw	Multi instance query	Check uncinject	Set FilePath
Discover broadcast	Show access	List serverinfo	Run oscmd	Set icmp
Show discovered	Export access	List databases		Set icmpip
Export discovered		List tables		Set http
		List links		Set httpurl
		List logins
		List rolemembers
		List privy		*All query results are exfiltrated via all enabled methods.

For more information on available commands visit: https://github.com/NetSPI/ESC/blob/master/README.md#supportedcommands

Wrap Up

Hopefully, the Evil SQL Client console will prove useful on engagements and help illustrate the need for a larger time investment in detective control development surrounding MSBuild inline task execution, SQL Server attacks, and basic data exfiltration.   For more information regarding the Evil SQL Client (ESC), please visit the github project.

Below are some additional links to get you started on building detections for common malicious Msbuild and SQL Server use:

• MSBuild Detection Guidance: Source 1
• MSBuild Detection Guidance: Source 2
• SQL Server Attack Detection Guidance

Good luck and hack responsibly!