Safely Checking the TRUSTWORTHY Setting in Your SQL Server Databases

Checking the TRUSTWORTHY Property:

Unfortunately, there's no straightforward T-SQL statement solely dedicated to checking the TRUSTWORTHY property. However, we can leverage the sys.sysdatabases system view and its associated columns to achieve this.

Here's a T-SQL script that demonstrates this approach:

SELECT 
    name AS DatabaseName,
    CASE WHEN is_trustworthy_on = 1 THEN 'ON' ELSE 'OFF' END AS TrustworthySetting
FROM sys.sysdatabases;

Explanation:

1. SELECT: This clause specifies the columns we want to retrieve from the database.
2. name AS DatabaseName: This retrieves the database name and renames it to a more descriptive "DatabaseName" for clarity.
3. CASE WHEN is_trustworthy_on = 1 THEN 'ON' ELSE 'OFF' END AS TrustworthySetting: This conditional expression checks the value of the is_trustworthy_on column:
   • If it's 1, the expression evaluates to "ON" (indicating the TRUSTWORTHY property is enabled).
   • Otherwise, it evaluates to "OFF".
4. FROM sys.sysdatabases: This clause specifies the system view containing information about all databases in the instance.

Running the Script:

1. Open your SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and connect to your SQL Server instance.
2. Paste the script into the query window.
3. Execute the script.

The result will display a table with two columns: "DatabaseName" and "TrustworthySetting". This will show you whether the TRUSTWORTHY property is enabled (ON) or disabled (OFF) for each database in your instance.

Important Note:

While enabling the TRUSTWORTHY property might seem convenient in rare occasions, it's strongly discouraged as it significantly increases security risks. Instead, consider alternative solutions that achieve your desired functionality without compromising security.

Related Issues and Solutions:

• Security Risks: Enabling TRUSTWORTHY allows executing untrusted code, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access, or server compromise.
• Alternatives: Consider alternative approaches to achieve your goals without enabling TRUSTWORTHY. For instance, use signed assemblies, granted permissions, or explore alternative libraries and frameworks that don't require TRUSTWORTHY.