Online transactions, social interaction and the dissemination of knowledge are just a few examples of how we rely on it to function. As such, hacking is one of the most dangerous aspects of this world because it can affect so many people at once. This article deals with SQL injection attacks in particular, which are one type out of many that hackers use to gain access to sensitive data stored in databases. Understanding these types and vulnerabilities will help you better protect your site from attack.
1. What is SQL injection
2. How does it work
3. How to protect your site from SQL injection attacks
The acronym 'SQL' stands for Structured Query Language and it's the most common language used to manipulate databases. It's a type of code that retrieves, edits, manages and displays data from those databases. Hackers can use SQL as well, but instead of making changes to produce accurate results they'll input hidden commands to change or delete data from a database. This is called SQL injection and it's one of the most popular forms of cyber attack because it takes very little knowledge to do, but can have a massive impact on a person or organization.
Suppose you own an online store that accepts credit cards. When a customer makes a purchase, the details of their card are taken by way of an input form to ensure they're legit and have enough money for this particular transaction. The individual numbers in the code that follow these fields will be sent directly to the database, allowing it to complete the deal without any need for human intervention. Hackers can input their own code into the form to alter this process and avoid detection. They might change those numbers so that an invalid card is now sent to the database, or a valid one is rejected during a purchase. There's a whole array of ways they can alter your data depending on their goal.
If you don't want hackers to take advantage of your site, it's important to protect it against SQL injection vulnerabilities. There are tools available online that can help you with this, including plugins for Wordpress that will keep any malicious code from injecting into your database. You'll also need to run regular security scans on the software itself so you can identify and repair any issues.
Your best bet is to use a reputable company that specializes in website security services, which we offer at palmiq. They'll conduct regular scans of your site and alert you should they find anything malicious inserted into it. This way you can take immediate action against potential threats and keep your customers safe.
If you want to protect your site from SQL injection vulnerabilities, it's important to use a reputable company that specializes in website security services. They will conduct regular scans of your site and alert you should they find anything malicious inserted into it. This way you can take immediate action against potential threats and keep your customers safe!
.png)
SQL injections are one of the most frequent types of cyber attack around. The purpose of this type of attack is to access a database, and in many cases that database holds valuable information which can be sold on the black market. To do that, hackers will use a form of SQL injection specifically designed to exploit weaknesses in your website's security.
In 2013, a report from Google's security team showed that SQL injection is the number one attack method. The company says it blocks over 8 million SQL injections per day.
Because of how widespread this issue has become, companies who specialize in web application penetration testing have been created to help businesses solve or mitigate these kinds of issues. To give you a better understanding of how these attacks work, here's a list of the most common SQL injection acronyms and their meanings.
- SQli – Structured Query Language Injection
- OSQLi – Oracle SQL Injection
- DBPdo – MySQL DataBase Password Decryption
- DBSQ – Blind SQL Injection
- DDOS – Distributed Denial of Service
Before the hackers are able to use a SQL injection, they need to find out if their target site has any open doors. They do that by identifying variables used on the website. Each time they find one, they will use a different technique to break their way in.
Once inside, they'll try and find out as much information about the database and the website as possible. That data is what hackers will sell on the black market to make money. Then they will create another script or program that can be used to carry out their attack. For example, instead of stealing data they could change the website's homepage to something obscene.
If your server is using PHP, hackers will try and enter through variables like $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'], that provide information about username functions or files on the site. They can also target things like $_POST['name'] or $_GET['id'] to steal user data.
Hackers can use many methods to find out if your site is vulnerable, like automated scanners that test every variable they find. As of 2015, there were several modules that had been created especially for Drupal and WordPress sites to protect them from attacks, but other platforms are still at risk.
One way to protect yourself and your site is to use Prepared Statements. These work by using placeholders in queries and sanitizing user input before it gets inserted into the statement.
Another option is to disable MySQL's here-documents, or "--" commands that end with a semicolon ; . By disabling this feature, a dangerous command can't be used.
If you need help protecting your site, check out the WP Security Audit Log plugin for WordPress. It logs any login attempts that happen on your site and presents them in a chronological list so you can see if anyone tried to access your website without permission.
This is just one example of how SQL injection can be used to harm your site. If you need help protecting yourself, it might be worth your time to check out this guide on securing your website from hackers.
SQL injection is a type of cyber attack that targets database servers by using vulnerable web applications. This method allows attackers to gain access and control of data on the back-end database, which can lead to sensitive information being permanently lost or corrupted. There are many forms of SQL injection attacks, but they all depend on some vulnerability in an application to be successful.
Typically, these attacks target web applications and websites with unsecured software. However, they can also be used against large enterprises with robust security measures in place, if their databases are improperly configured. Since the attack occurs on the database layer (not the application), it is often hard to detect and prevent.
SQL injection is one of the most popular forms of cyber attack affecting websites with weak security. Here's how it works, and what you can do to protect your site from vulnerabilities.
SQL injection attacks are when hackers insert code into a web form that looks something like the following:
<form action='/php/insert_user.php' method='POST'>
<input type='text' name='user_name'>
</form>
The user's input should be stored in the variable $user_name for later use, but if a hacker enters something like:
'delete from users where user_password = "foobar"; --
Then the code is going to break, and the user_password field will also be cleared. Now the hacker has full access to the site.
This is just one example of how cyber attackers can manipulate your website's code to break into systems and steal sensitive information. SQL injection vulnerabilities are found in all sorts of websites, not just those that use PHP. Certainly this web app would have been more secure if it had used prepared statements, which prevent this kind of attack.
To keep hackers from slipping past your website's defenses, always use strong security measures and avoid any codes or commands that could potentially be dangerous. By doing so you'll protect yourself from future cyber attacks. While the article they're reading is about a theoretical site, the information is still valid.
SQL injection is one of the most common forms of cyber attack in use today.
Modern websites are vulnerable to attacks that exploit SQL injection vulnerabilities because these sites must communicate with databases.
Each website has a different kind of vulnerability, but they all lead back to this root cause. Attackers exploit these weaknesses by injecting malicious code into the database queries that websites use to talk with the database. The injected code reveals secret information, corrupts data, or opens access to other parts of the site's server.
This is a growing problem for websites across all industries. A recent security report found that SQL injection attacks have grown 400% since 2012! Unfortunately, even sites you might think are safe can be vulnerable. There are several instances of large companies like eBay and Sony falling victim to SQL injection attacks in recent years, even though these companies have teams dedicated to security.
One way to prevent SQL injection attacks is to partner with a technology company like palmiq. We provide web and mobile applications and websites with comprehensive security so you can rest easy knowing your network is protected. Contact our team today to learn more about what we do, or request a free quote today!
.svg)
