What Is SQL Injection? How to Prevent It on Your Website

As technology advances, cybercrime is also on the rise. One such threat is SQL injection, which ranks third among high-risk cyberattacks. But what exactly is SQL injection?

SQL injection attacks work by manipulating and stealing data from databases, such as personal information, account details, financial assets, credit card information, and much more. Read on for a more detailed explanation of SQL injection and how to prevent it.

What Is SQL Injection?

SQL injection is a form of cybercrime carried out by exploiting security vulnerabilities in a database within an application or website. These vulnerabilities arise from user input that lacks proper filtering. Hackers typically use specific tools to gain access to the database. By injecting code, hackers can easily gain entry without the owner’s permission.

Consequently, these malicious actors can easily retrieve, modify, add, or delete data on the targeted site. As the name suggests, this activity threatens websites that use SQL databases. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a database that is secure against SQL injection attacks.

How Does SQL Injection Work?

To this day, SQL injection remains one of the most widely used methods by hackers. There are three steps involved in carrying out an attack using SQL injection:

1. Identifying Security Vulnerabilities Through User Data

The first step in the SQL injection process is to identify security vulnerabilities by obtaining user data during the login process when accessing a specific website. This is especially true when users enter their username and password.

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Next, they send code to the login page containing an SQL query, which the database processes as a command. If the query received by the hacker contains complete information about an account, the login is successful. Conversely, if the data received is incomplete, the login fails.

The username field is typically filled with characters. Through this step, hackers can insert characters to manipulate SQL and include keywords in the form of instructions that can damage the database. Consequently, hackers can execute the query.

2. Validation Process

After successfully completing the first step and sending the SQL query, the database then validates the submitted command. As a result, the database provides the user information used during the login process. Next, the hacker will be granted access to that account.

3. Gaining Database Access

Through the previous two steps, the hacker successfully gains access to an account without the need for verification. In the next step, they can perform any activity on the account in question.

This includes changing settings within the account—such as elevating the hacker’s privileges to administrator status. They can easily access, modify, or even delete data on the relevant website.

What Is the Purpose of SQL Injection?

Using SQL injection to steal data from a database is certainly driven by specific objectives. Here are some of the purposes of SQL injection:

1. Data Theft

In cybercrime, the primary goal of hacking is to steal data and personal information. Hackers collect information from the target site to use in subsequent criminal activities.

Usernames and passwords are the first pieces of data collected, allowing hackers to gain access and make certain changes.

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2. Deleting and Modifying Data

SQL injection helps hackers gain access to an account, enabling them to perform various actions, such as deleting and modifying data. This results in the loss of various data on the website and the presence of inaccurate information within it.

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3. Bypassing Authentication

Bypassing authentication is the process of using a shortcut to facilitate login without using a username and password. Using SQL injection, hackers can enter a website’s system through this bypass process. This is done by inserting an SQL injection script into the login page.

4. Executing Commands

SQL injection is used to make a database execute commands so that hackers can easily access everything available on the website. This is especially true if you can access the operating system through the database.

How to Prevent SQL Injection Attacks?

SQL injection attacks enable data theft through database security vulnerabilities. This activity is certainly very detrimental to users. Therefore, several measures need to be taken as preventive actions against SQL injection on your site. The steps you can take are:

1. Perform User Validation

Validating user input helps check all commands before they are allowed to proceed. This process aims to identify the types of input being submitted so that they can be approved or rejected. As a result, only users with specific values will be granted access.

2. Separate Usernames and Passwords in the Database

Through SQL injection, hackers can obtain usernames and passwords from a single database. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, you can store usernames and passwords in separate databases.

Hackers will need to take more steps and make more attempts because the required data is located in different databases. This can also help improve security if some data in another database has been compromised.

3. Use Parameterized Queries

Parameterized queries are a method that helps ensure the entire SQL code is defined before it is sent to the database management system. This allows the database to recognize the code and distinguish it from user input. Using parameterized queries can prevent SQL injection because the queries on the website are locked and cannot be modified in any way.

4. Restricting Access Rights

When accessing a website, restrictions are necessary to prevent other users from easily attempting to log in. Avoid logging into the database using admin access. Use predefined access levels to limit the scope of the system.

5. Filter Input Characters

Filtering characters can help prevent SQL injection. Hackers use certain characters to execute SQL injection attacks. Creating filters for specific characters prevents them from entering those characters into the login form as part of an SQL injection attempt.

6. Use WAF and IPS for Protection

In addition to the five methods above, you can use systems that help protect your site from SQL injection, such as WAF and IPS.

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A web application firewall (WAF) is a firewall that monitors and blocks data on websites and applications. A WAF acts as a shield between the website and the application to minimize emerging threats. A WAF helps monitor application traffic and prevent SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

Meanwhile, an intrusion prevention system (IPS) is a system that monitors and blocks computer network traffic. This system can detect hacking attempts on a website. An IPS works by logging all information when unusual or malicious activity is detected.

Now that you understand what SQL injection is, it’s crucial to secure your website to avoid hacking threats. Using a firewall as a protective measure is a top priority.

Cloudmatika is a company that provides WAF and various other cloud products and IT services, such as cloud storage, cyber protection, disaster recovery, and much more. Contact Cloudmatika today to consult about your data security!