6 Ways to Protect yourself from SQL Injection

SQL injection is a technique for exploiting user data via web page inputs by injecting SQL commands in the form of statements. Malicious users can use these statements to manipulate the application's web server.

 

• SQL injection is a code injection technique that has the potential to completely destroy your database.

• One of the most common web hacking techniques is SQL injection.

• SQL injection is the use of web page input to insert malicious code into SQL statements.

 

 

What is SQL Injection? 

 

SQL injection (SQLi) is a web security flaw that allows an attacker to interfere with database queries made by an application. It generally enables an attacker to view data that they would not otherwise be able to retrieve. This could include data belonging to other users or any other data that the application has access to. An attacker can often modify or delete this data, resulting in persistent changes to the application's content or behavior.

 

An attacker can escalate a SQL injection attack to compromise the underlying server or other back-end infrastructure or perform a denial-of-service attack in some circumstances.

 

Unauthorized access to sensitive data, such as passwords, credit card information, or personal user information, can result from a successful SQL injection attack. SQL injection attacks have been the cause of many high-profile data breaches in recent years, resulting in reputational damage and regulatory fines. 

 

In some cases, an attacker can gain a persistent backdoor into an organization's systems, resulting in a long-term compromise that can go undetected for a long time. A SQLI is a type of attack in which cybercriminals exploit software vulnerabilities in web applications in order to steal, delete, or modify data or gain administrative control over the systems that are running the affected applications.

 

Cybersecurity researchers regard SQLI as one of the least sophisticated and easiest-to-defend cyber threats. SQLI was ranked third in Malwarebytes Labs' list of the Top 5 Dumbest Cyber Threats that Work. In any case, SQLI is a well-known, predictable attack with easily implemented countermeasures. 

 

SQLI attacks are so simple that attackers can find vulnerable websites by performing advanced Google searches, also known as Google Dorking. SQLI attackers can use automated programs to carry out the attack for them once they've identified a suitable target.

 

Despite this, SQLI attacks are common and occur on a daily basis. In fact, if you have a website or an online business, cybercriminals have most likely already attempted to break into it using SQLI. According to one Ponemon Institute study on The SQL Injection Threat & Recent Retail Breaches, 65% of businesses surveyed were victims of an SQLI-based attack.

 

Also Read | Everything you need to know about Cyber Espionage

 

How Does SQL Injection Work?

 

SQL (short for structured query language), which was created in the early 1970s, is one of the oldest programming languages still in use today for managing online databases. Prices and inventory levels for online shopping sites are stored in these databases. SQL is used when a user needs to access database information and present that data to the user. However, these databases may also contain more sensitive and valuable information, such as usernames and passwords, credit card information, and social security numbers. SQL injections are useful in this situation.

 

Simply put, a SQL injection occurs when criminal hackers enter malicious commands into un-secure website web forms, such as the search field, login field, or URL, in order to gain unauthorized access to sensitive and valuable data.

 

Here's an illustration. Consider visiting your favorite online clothing store. You're looking for socks and come across a Technicolor world of colorful socks, all of which are available with the click of a mouse. Technology's marvels! Every sock you see is in a database somewhere, on some server. When you find a sock you like and click on it, you send a request to the sock database, and the shopping site responds with information about the sock you clicked on. Consider that your favorite online shopping website was built in a shoddy manner, with exploitable SQL vulnerabilities. 

 

A cybercriminal can manipulate database queries so that a request for information about a pair of socks returns the credit card number of some unsuspecting customer. A cybercriminal can plumb the depths of the database and steal sensitive information on every customer who's ever shopped at your favorite online clothing site—including you—by repeating this process. Continuing the thought experiment, imagine you are the owner of this clothing website. You're dealing with a massive data breach.

 

One SQLI attack can yield cybercriminals millions of consumers' personal information, emails, logins, credit card numbers, and social security numbers. Cybercriminals can then turn around and sell this personal information on the dark web, where it can be used for a variety of illegal purposes. 

 

Stolen emails can be used in phishing and spam campaigns. Malspam attacks, in turn, can be used to infect victims with a variety of destructive malware, including ransomware, adware, crypto hackers, and Trojans (for example, Emotet). Robocalls and text message spam can be sent to stolen phone numbers on Android and iOS devices.

 

Types of SQL Injection:

 

SQL injections are generally classified into three types: in-band SQLi (Classic), inferential SQLi (Blind), and out-of-band SQLi. SQL injections can be classified based on how they access backend data and how much damage they can cause.

 

1. In-band SQLi:

 

The attacker uses the same communication channel to launch attacks and collect data. Because of its simplicity and efficiency, in-band SQLi is one of the most common types of SQLi attacks. This method is divided into two sub-variations:

 

SQLi based on errors—the attacker performs actions that cause the database to generate error messages. The attacker could potentially use the data provided by these error messages to learn about the database's structure.

 

Union-based SQLi uses the UNION SQL operator to combine multiple select statements generated by the database into a single HTTP response. This response may contain information that the attacker can use.

 

2. SQLi Inferential (Blind):

 

The attacker sends data payloads to the server and observes the server's response and behavior to learn more about its structure. Because the data is not transferred from the website database to the attacker, the attacker is unable to see information about the attack in-band.

 

Blind SQL injections rely on the server's response and behavioral patterns, so they are typically slower to execute but just as dangerous. Blind SQL injections can be divided into two types:
 

• Boolean: the attacker sends a SQL query to the database, requesting that it return a result. The outcome depends on whether the query is true or false. The information in the HTTP response will change or remain unchanged depending on the outcome. The attacker can then determine whether the message produced a true or false result.

 

• Time-based: the attacker sends a SQL query to the database, which causes the database to wait (in seconds) before responding. The attacker can determine whether a query is true or false based on the time it takes the database to respond. Based on the outcome, an HTTP response will be generated either immediately or after a short delay. The attacker can thus determine whether the message they used returned true or false without relying on database data.

 

3. Out-of-band SQLi:

 

This type of attack is only possible if certain features on the database server used by the web application are enabled. This type of attack is typically used as a complement to in-band and inferential SQLi techniques.

 

Out-of-band SQLi is used when the attacker is unable to use the same channel to launch the attack and gather information, or when a server is too slow or unstable to perform these actions. These techniques rely on the server's ability to generate DNS or HTTP requests in order to transfer data to an attacker.

 

Ways to Protect Yourself From SQL Injection: 

 

It makes no difference how common SQL injection attacks are or how much damage they can cause to organizations and their customers. There are certainly methods for preventing SQL injection attacks. The solutions may not be completely secure, but they may provide sufficient protection against SQL injection attacks.

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Ways to Protect Yourself From SQL Injection 

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1. Filter Data Wherever Possible: 

 

According To a security report, input validation failures cause 9 out of 10 local file inclusion attacks. As a result, it is preferable to use input validation when receiving user-submitted data. You can't trust what the user intends to do, so user input validation via appropriate functions would filter out any unnecessary characters from the user input data, such as 'in SQL queries. 

 

It is also recommended to filter data based on context. You should only allow characters and numbers that are valid in email addresses, digits that are valid in phone numbers, and so on.

 

2. Avoid using Dynamic SQL Queries:

 

 It is not recommended to create and use SQL queries based on user input data. It is preferable to use stored or parameterized queries and prepared statements because even the best data cleaning procedures can have flaws. 

 

However, there must be a balance between stored procedures and others, as they may fail to prevent SQL injection attacks in many cases.

 

3. Update, Patch, and Repeat: 

 

Hackers are constantly discovering and exploiting new SQL injection vulnerabilities. As a result, it is critical to check for updates on a regular basis and apply patches as soon as possible. You can also use a patch management system to alleviate your concerns.

 

4. Make Use of a Dependable Web Application: 

 

Firewall Using trusted firewalls, malicious data or unusual server requests can be efficiently filtered out. The majority of well-known firewalls are made up of an ever-changing set of rules designed to provide the best possible security protection. Even before a patch is available, it can provide some underlying security against newly discovered threats. 

 

ModSecurity is a popular firewall available for various web servers, including Apache and Nginx. Its constantly evolving set of data security rules is best known for filtering potentially dangerous server requests. Its ability to prevent SQL injection attacks has made it a favorite among similar options.

 

Also Read | What is a Firewall?

 

5. Only essential privileges should be granted:

 

It is not always necessary to connect to your database using accounts with administrative privileges. It should only be done under extreme circumstances. If an attacker gains access to your database servers, having a limited access account can limit their options. Assume an attacker gains access to the code that powers your login page. If he only has limited access to the database, the breach will be less damaging than it could be.

 

6. Disclose Only Necessary Information:

 

Error messages can reveal a wealth of important database information. This could aid hackers in gaining valuable insights into database architecture. As a result, caution must be exercised before disclosing any additional information anywhere on your platform. Using verbose error messages that reveal nothing about the database in question may help the cause.

 

In the end, SQL Injection attacks can compromise a company's database and take control of a database server hidden behind a web application. You learned about SQL injection and its various types after reading this article. You watched a demonstration of the OWASP application and learned how to avoid SQL Injection.

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