Exploring the SQL Injection Attacks and Their Types

TL:DR

SQL Injection Attacks are a type of injection attack that aim to exploit vulnerabilities present in web applications
Usually the SQL query begin with OR 1=1– , which is designed to exploit a vulnerability in the search function
Even SQL Injection has been around since 1990, its still possible to do this type of attack in some web app who still use obsolete technology

Although SQL injection attacks have been known since the late 1990s, they continue to pose a significant threat to web applications today. As one of the oldest and most pervasive web application vulnerabilities, they are a favorite tactic of cybercriminals seeking to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or disrupt application functionality. To address this ongoing security risk, it is crucial to understand the nature and mechanics of SQL injection attacks, as well as best practices for prevention.

Table of Contents

What is SQL Injection Attacks?

SQL Injection Attacks are a type of injection attack that aim to exploit vulnerabilities present in web applications. These attacks can have serious consequences, allowing malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify data, or execute unauthorized commands. In order to better understand SQL Injection Attacks, it is important to have an understanding of how web applications interact with databases.

Web applications use databases to store and retrieve information. Databases are structured in a particular way, using a language called SQL (Structured Query Language) to interact with the data they contain. Web applications communicate with databases by sending queries, written in SQL, to retrieve, modify, or delete data.

In order for a web application to send a query to a database, it typically requires some form of user input, such as a search term or login credentials. However, if this input is not properly validated or sanitized by the web application, it can be manipulated by an attacker to inject malicious SQL code into the query. This is known as an SQL Injection Attack.

An SQL Injection Attack can take various forms, but the basic concept is the same: the attacker injects malicious SQL code into a query to manipulate the database and access sensitive data. The attacker may be able to retrieve data such as usernames and passwords, or modify data in the database, potentially disrupting the operation of the web application. In some cases, the attacker may even be able to take control of the web application and the underlying database.

Example of SQL Injection Attack

SQL Injection Attacks can have severe consequences for organizations, including data breaches, loss of confidential information, and damage to reputation. To illustrate how a SQL Injection Attack can occur in practice, let’s consider a real-world example.

Imagine that there is an e-commerce website that uses a database to store customer information, including names, addresses, and credit card information. The website has a search function that allows users to search for products by keyword. The search function interacts with the database using SQL statements.

An attacker who wants to carry out a SQL Injection Attack on this website might begin by entering a search query that includes malicious SQL code. For example, the attacker might enter a search query such as:

‘ OR 1=1–

This query includes the SQL code ‘ OR 1=1–, which is designed to exploit a vulnerability in the search function. The — at the end of the query is a comment character in SQL, which tells the database to ignore the rest of the query. The OR 1=1 portion of the query is designed to always evaluate to true, which means that the search function will return all of the products in the database, rather than just the ones that match the user’s query.

When the search function processes this query, the SQL statement that is sent to the database might look something like this:

SELECT * FROM products WHERE name LIKE ‘%’ OR 1=1–%’

This SQL statement includes the malicious code entered by the attacker. The OR 1=1 portion of the code is concatenated with the rest of the SQL statement, causing it to evaluate to true and return all of the products in the database.

Try your Self SQL Injection, click here

By entering this query, the attacker has essentially bypassed the search function and gained access to all of the products in the database. Depending on the security of the website, the attacker might also be able to access other parts of the database, such as customer information and credit card numbers.

This example illustrates how SQL Injection Attacks can be carried out by exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. To prevent SQL Injection Attacks, it is important for web developers to follow best practices for secure coding, including input validation and the use of parameterized queries. Additionally, organizations can use security tools such as web application firewalls to detect and block SQL Injection Attacks. By prioritizing security measures, organizations can help protect themselves from the potentially devastating consequences of a SQL Injection Attack.

Types of SQL Injection Attacks

SQL Injection Attacks can take on different forms, depending on the specific vulnerability that is being exploited. Here are some common types of SQL Injection Attacks:

In-Band SQL Injection

This is the most common type of SQL Injection Attack, in which the attacker uses the same communication channel to both launch the attack and retrieve data. In this type of attack, the attacker sends a malicious SQL query to the server and then retrieves the results. For example, the attacker might use a login page to inject SQL code that retrieves sensitive data from the database.

Blind SQL Injection

This type of attack occurs when the attacker is unable to directly retrieve data from the database. Instead, the attacker uses Boolean-based or time-based techniques to infer whether or not the injected SQL query was executed. In this type of attack, the attacker sends a malicious SQL query to the server and then observes the response to infer information about the database.

Out-of-Band SQL Injection

This type of attack occurs when the attacker is able to launch the attack and retrieve data through a different communication channel than the one used by the web application. For example, the attacker might use a SQL Injection Attack to create a DNS request that sends data to a remote server controlled by the attacker.

Error-Based SQL Injection

This type of attack exploits error messages generated by the database in response to a malformed SQL query. By causing the database to generate error messages that include sensitive information about the database structure, an attacker can gain insight into how to craft a successful SQL Injection Attack.

Union-Based SQL Injection

This type of attack uses the UNION operator to combine the results of two SELECT statements into a single result set. By injecting a malicious SELECT statement that includes a UNION operator, an attacker can retrieve data from a different table than the one intended by the web application.

Time-Based SQL Injection

This type of attack uses time delays to infer information about the database. By injecting SQL statements that include time delay functions, an attacker can infer information about the database based on how long it takes to receive a response.

Each of these types of SQL Injection Attacks exploits a different vulnerability in web applications that use SQL to interact with a database. To prevent these types of attacks, it is important for web developers to follow best practices for secure coding, including input validation and the use of parameterized queries. Additionally, organizations can use security tools such as web application firewalls to detect and block SQL Injection Attacks. By prioritizing security measures, organizations can help protect themselves from the potentially devastating consequences of a SQL Injection Attack.

Is SQL injection possible today?

Regarding the question, the answer is yes, SQL injection is still a possible and prevalent threat today. Despite the widespread awareness of SQL injection vulnerabilities and the availability of preventive measures, many web applications are still vulnerable to SQL Injection Attacks.

In fact, according to the 2021 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, SQL Injection Attacks continue to be a common attack vector used by hackers to compromise web applications. The report found that SQL Injection Attacks accounted for 14% of all breaches in the study.

One reason why SQL Injection Attacks continue to be a problem is that they are often the result of coding errors or oversights that can be difficult to detect and fix. In addition, new vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered and exploited by hackers, making it important for organizations to stay vigilant and regularly test their web applications for vulnerabilities.

Therefore, it is important for organizations to take proactive steps to prevent SQL Injection Attacks, including implementing input validation, parameterized queries, and other security measures. It is also important to regularly test web applications for vulnerabilities and keep software and security systems up-to-date to prevent known vulnerabilities from being exploited.

Conclusion

SQL Injection Attacks continue to be a serious threat to web applications and the sensitive data they store. Despite the prevalence of these attacks and the availability of preventive measures, many organizations still fail to properly secure their web applications against SQL Injection. To prevent SQL Injection Attacks, organizations must prioritize security measures and take proactive steps to secure their web applications. It is important for organizations to prioritize security and regularly assess their web application security to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities and prevent SQL Injection Attacks.