---
id: 8162
title: "How to get SQL Server Sysadmin Privileges as a Local Admin with PowerUpSQL"
source_domain: netspi.com
source_url: "https://www.netspi.com/blog/technical-blog/network-pentesting/get-sql-server-sysadmin-privileges-local-admin-powerupsql/"
published_at: "2017-05-23T00:00:00Z"
tags: ["privilege-escalation", "windows", "sql-server", "powerupsql", "token-impersonation"]
phying_url: "https://phying.com/item/8162"
lang: en
---

# How to get SQL Server Sysadmin Privileges as a Local Admin with PowerUpSQL

## Summary

Because SQL Server service accounts hold sysadmin by default, a local admin can impersonate them via token manipulation or extract their credentials, gaining DBA-level control of every instance.

## Intelligence Metadata

- **Sources:** netspi.com
- **Published:** 2017-05-23T00:00:00Z
- **Original:** https://www.netspi.com/blog/technical-blog/network-pentesting/get-sql-server-sysadmin-privileges-local-admin-powerupsql/
- **Phying News:** https://phying.com/item/8162