What is SQL Injection?

SQL Injection is a web security vulnerability that allows bad actors to interfere with queries that an application makes to its database. SQLi is a common attack that is SQL code inserted into an SQL query to give bad actors access to sensitive information.

There are three types of SQL injections:

1. In-band SQLi: occurs when malicious individuals use the same communication line to gather information. It is also known as “classic SQLi” and comes in two common types: error-based and union-based. Error-based relies on error messages to obtain information about the database structure. At the same time, union-based leverages the results of two or more SELECT statements and returns them as part of the HTTP response.
2. Inferential SQLi: No data is transferred from the web application, but it can reconstruct the database’s structure by sending payloads, observing the app’s response, and the resulting behavior of the server. This is why this is called the “blind SQLi” method. The two types of inferential SQLi are boolean-based (content-based) and time-based. Boolean-based sends an SQL query that forces the app to return a different result, allowing the bad actor to attack slowly and infer whether the payload used was true or false. Time-based is similar to Boolean, but based on the response time the attacker infers whether the SQL query was true or false.
3. Out-of-band SQLi: this method is the least common as it depends on features being enabled on the database server. It is used when a bad actor cannot use the same communication line to attack and gather information. Out-of-band is best used when the server response is unstable and when the database server can make DNS or HTTP requests to deliver data to the bad actor.

How to Prevent an SQL Injection

Ensuring comprehensive validation of data and utilizing parameterized queries when interacting with databases are imperative for maintaining data integrity and security. It is crucial to conduct regular vulnerability scans in both the application code and environment to identify and address potential security weaknesses. Furthermore, staying up to date with the latest version of the development environment is vital for implementing and maintaining strong security measures.

What’s Next?

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