TMA-MSSQL-2.14

Ensure the 'sa' Login Account has been renamed

MediumLevel 1Automatedmssql

Description

The sa account is a widely known and often widely used SQL Server login with sysadmin privileges. The sa login is the original login created during installation and always has principal_id=1 and sid=0x01. Default: By default, the sa login name is 'sa'. Runs one sqlcmd query with its defaults (Windows authentication to the local default instance); set SQLCMDSERVER, SQLCMDUSER and SQLCMDPASSWORD for another instance or SQL authentication. Needs VIEW SERVER STATE / sysadmin-level read access.

How it is checked

Audit method: SQL query

sql_query

sqlcmd -b -h -1 -W -Q "SET NOCOUNT ON; SELECT CASE WHEN name = 'sa' THEN 'noncompliant' ELSE 'compliant' END FROM sys.server_principals WHERE sid = 0x01;"

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Replace the <different_user> value within the below syntax and execute to rename the sa login. ALTER LOGIN sa WITH NAME = <different_user>;

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: mssqldatabaseauthentication
Reference: CIS Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Benchmark v1.0.0 - 2.14 Ensure the 'sa' Login Account has been renamed

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target mssql