What is SQL injection? | What does SQL injection mean
Among different methods used out there to hack websites, SQL injection holds a prominent place.
If you want to protect against hacking attempts, it is essential to be aware of what SQL injections are all about. This knowledge can help website owners to refrain from becoming victims of it.
If you want to protect against hacking attempts, it is essential to be aware of what SQL injections are all about. This knowledge can help website owners to refrain from becoming victims of it.
What is SQL injection attack?
What is SQL injection in cyber security? This is a type of cyber injection attack which is capable of executing malicious SQL statements.
These negative SQL statements can change the database, which runs behind a web application. The main reason why SQL injections are so popular is that attackers are using them to bypass different application security measures available and gain access to valuable data.
For example, SQL injection attacks can provide hackers access to a complete SQL database. This is why it is essential to be aware of What is SQL injection and how to prevent it. Using SQL injection, a hacker can add, modify, or even delete available records within a database.
These negative SQL statements can change the database, which runs behind a web application. The main reason why SQL injections are so popular is that attackers are using them to bypass different application security measures available and gain access to valuable data.
For example, SQL injection attacks can provide hackers access to a complete SQL database. This is why it is essential to be aware of What is SQL injection and how to prevent it. Using SQL injection, a hacker can add, modify, or even delete available records within a database.
It is essential to remember that a SQL injection can affect any website or web application through a vulnerability. All types of SQL databases, including SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL, are vulnerable.
This is a proven and effective method available to gain unauthorized access to a database and all records available in it.
For example, if a SQL injection attack impacts your business, you will lose your trade secrets, personal data, customer information, intellectual property, and many more.
This is a proven and effective method available to gain unauthorized access to a database and all records available in it.
For example, if a SQL injection attack impacts your business, you will lose your trade secrets, personal data, customer information, intellectual property, and many more.
SQL injections are not so new. They are among the oldest types of cyberattacks that cybercriminals use to gain access to websites.
Related: what is a ddos attack
Types of SQL injection attacks
Now you know what does SQL injection mean. While keeping that in mind, let’s focus on the types of SQL injection and how to prevent them.
In-band SQL injection
When it comes to an in-band SQL injection, the attacker will use the same communication channel to gain access to the SQL database and gather data.
This is one of the simplest and the most efficient types of SQL injections that can take place. Due to the same reason, they are popular among people who run SQL injections.
You can further divide in-band SQL injections into two categories as error based SQL injections and union-based SQL injections.
When it comes to error-based SQL injections, the attacker makes the database give out error messages. On the other hand, a union-based SQL injection will create the database and give out a single HTTP response.
This is one of the simplest and the most efficient types of SQL injections that can take place. Due to the same reason, they are popular among people who run SQL injections.
You can further divide in-band SQL injections into two categories as error based SQL injections and union-based SQL injections.
When it comes to error-based SQL injections, the attacker makes the database give out error messages. On the other hand, a union-based SQL injection will create the database and give out a single HTTP response.
Inferential SQL injection
Inferential SQL injection is also known as blind SQL injection. This is where the attacker sends data payloads to the server while carefully observing the response he could get.
Along with that, the attacker also observes the specific behavior of the web server in order to learn more about its structure of it.
The main reason this type of SQL injection is called blind SQL injection is that it doesn’t transfer any data from the website’s database to the attacker.
The primary objective of these SQL injections is to get hold of the behavioral patterns and responses of the server.
Along with that, the attacker also observes the specific behavior of the web server in order to learn more about its structure of it.
The main reason this type of SQL injection is called blind SQL injection is that it doesn’t transfer any data from the website’s database to the attacker.
The primary objective of these SQL injections is to get hold of the behavioral patterns and responses of the server.
Out of band SQL injection
The other one is out of band SQL injection. The attacker must enable a few features within the database server to perform this type of SQL injection.
This is one of the most popular alternatives available for the inferential and in-band SQL injection methods.
This is one of the most popular alternatives available for the inferential and in-band SQL injection methods.
When the attacker cannot use the same channel to successfully launch a SQL injection attack, he/she will go ahead with out of band SQL injection.
It is still an effective method available out there to gather information. However, this method is proper when the server is unstable or too slow to respond.
It is still an effective method available out there to gather information. However, this method is proper when the server is unstable or too slow to respond.
Related: how to prevent session hijacking
What is SQL injection example?
To get a better idea of what SQL injection is used for, let’s look at an example of how this type of attack is being carried out.
The attacker who launches the SQL injection will first discover credentials to one or more users within a database.
Then SQL queries that can be helpful with getting output data from the database are determined.
If the attacker is interested in gathering such data, SQL scripts are placed within the server to run the queries and output data.
Through a SQL injection attack, it would be possible for an attacker to gain complete access to data.
For example, if an SQL injection happens on a financial application, the SQL injection attacker can void transactions, alter balances, and even transfer money to a completely different account.
The attacker can go ahead and drop tables from the SQL database as well.
For example, if an SQL injection happens on a financial application, the SQL injection attacker can void transactions, alter balances, and even transfer money to a completely different account.
The attacker can go ahead and drop tables from the SQL database as well.
What are the solution for injection attacks?
Now you know how bad a SQL attack is. While keeping this in mind, you will need to understand the best way to prevent SQL injection.
One of the most important things that you will need to do to avoid a SQL injection attack is to do input validation. This process is also known as sanitization.
Then you can ensure that only legitimate users can access the SQL database. If you continue this as a best practice, you can effectively refrain from SQL injections.
A web application firewall is also capable of aid that you need to refrain from SQL injection.
That’s because the firewall can effectively filter out SQL injection requests. Along with that, it is also capable of preventing other online threats that your website is susceptible to.
That’s because the firewall can effectively filter out SQL injection requests. Along with that, it is also capable of preventing other online threats that your website is susceptible to.
There are modern web applications that come along with excellent security features. They are capable of gathering lots of additional information, which enhances security.
When the firewall detects a malicious or suspicious input, it will cross-verify it. Based on the verification results, it is determined whether to block the entire request or allow it to proceed.
When the firewall detects a malicious or suspicious input, it will cross-verify it. Based on the verification results, it is determined whether to block the entire request or allow it to proceed.
The best thing you can do to prevent SQL injections is to refrain from trusting user inputs in any given situation.
It would help if you kept in mind that every piece of information submitted by a user carries the same risk associated with a SQL injection.
Therefore, you should be treating the same way for both public inputs as well as internal inputs.
It would help if you kept in mind that every piece of information submitted by a user carries the same risk associated with a SQL injection.
Therefore, you should be treating the same way for both public inputs as well as internal inputs.
Another great thing you can do to prevent SQL injections is to maintain allowlists instead of blacklists. This is where you should be careful not to filter out inputs based on a blacklist.
If you want to know, how to secure a website from hackers completely click here.
If you want to know, how to secure a website from hackers completely click here.
Conclusion
Now you know what SQL injections are about. If you own a website, you need to understand that you are at risk of becoming a victim of a SQL injection. Therefore, take appropriate measures to prevent yourself.
