SQL injection (SQLi) is a type of cybersecurity attack that targets web applications and can have serious consequences if successful. It occurs if an attacker is able to inject malicious into a database query . SQL injection attacks can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access, and data manipulation.
SQL injection attacks typically target web applications that accept user input, such as search boxes, login forms, and registration forms. Attackers enter into these input fields. For example, they might input ' OR 1=1 -- into a login form's username field. If the web application does not properly validate or , it may directly incorporate the attacker's input into SQL queries without proper checking.
The attacker's input gets executed as part of a SQL query. In the example above, the application may construct a query like this: SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '' OR 1=1 --' AND password = 'somepassword'. The -- signifies a comment in SQL, effectively making the rest of the query irrelevant (the password part!). The 1=1 condition always evaluates to true, allowing the attacker to bypass and gain unauthorized access.
To prevent SQL injection, it is essential to validate and sanitize all user input before using it in SQL queries. This includes using parameterized statements or prepared statements. Use or prepared statements provided by your database framework or ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) library, as these methods automatically handle input validation and prevent SQL injection. Use stored procedures whenever possible to encapsulate database logic, which reduces the risk of SQL injection by separating user input from SQL code.
Keywords
sanitize user input | authentication | parameterized queries | without the system sanitizing the input | malicious sql code | sql code |
