SQL Injection - CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 - 2.3
Understanding Code Injection Attacks
Overview of Code Injection
- A code injection attack involves an attacker inserting their own code into application input, which should be prevented by developers through proper checks.
- Various types of code injections exist, including HTML, SQL, and XML injections. This discussion focuses on SQL injection.
SQL Injection Explained
- SQL (Structured Query Language) is commonly used for applications to interact with databases. An SQL injection allows attackers to manipulate database queries.
- If an application lacks proper security checks, attackers can send arbitrary requests to the database via input fields in the application.
Exploiting Vulnerabilities
- An example query might look like:
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = 'input'. Attackers can modify this query by injecting additional SQL code.
- For instance, using
OR 1 = 1in a query could return all records from the database since the condition will always evaluate as true.
Consequences of SQL Injection
- Such vulnerabilities are easy to exploit; attackers only need to add malicious code into input fields without requiring additional software or user interaction.
- Successful exploitation grants attackers significant control over the database—allowing them to view, delete, or alter data at will.
Practical Example of SQL Injection
- The speaker demonstrates a vulnerable application called WebGoat (available at webgoat.org), where they attempt an SQL injection using specific inputs.
- Initially logging in with a username "Smith" and a transaction authentication number limits access. However, they plan to inject additional code for broader access.