Any website can be at risk of cyberattacks. Attackers will deliberately target a website so that they can steal information and data for some form of benefit. This can be done in various ways, including phishing, malware, DoS attacks and SQL injections. Let’s learn more about what an SQL injection attack is.
An SQL (Security Query Language) Injection Attack is a cyber-attack in which the attacker injects malicious SQL code into the website. They do this to steal large volumes of information and data, usually about clients.
Read on to learn more about SQL injection attacks and how to protect yourself from them with NEBRC.
What Is The First Step In An SQL Injection Attack?
The first step of an SQL injection attack is to study how the targeted database functions. The attacker does this by submitting a variety of random values into the query to observe how the site responds. This is then used to craft a query that the server will interpret and execute as a SQL command.
How Do SQL Injection Attacks Work?
A website becomes vulnerable to SQL injection when attackers are able to influence the queries sent by a website to a database. This enables the attacker to extract information from the database or to change the contents of the database through, for example, a simple query.
As an example, website databases often store customer information with associated customer IDs. Attackers can run the query “CustomerID = 1000 OR 1=1” into the input field. Since the statement ‘1=1’ is always true, the SQL query would give the attacker the customers information and all other corresponding data. A SQL injection vulnerability can endanger both the integrity as well as the confidentiality of the information behind the website.
Who Is The Target Of SQL Injection Attacks?
Any website can be the target of a SQL injection attack. They often target confidential information that you don’t want to get out. According to the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP) SQL injection attacks ranked third in the top 10 critical security risks for web applications in 2021. While outdated, it’s still relevant to be aware of the risk of SQL injection attacks.
How To Prevent An SQL Injection Attack?
There are some preventative measures that you can put in place in order to protect yourself from an SQL Injection Attack. These include:
- Installing the latest security patches and software updates when they become available. Attackers then can’t take advantage of outdated software.
- Don’t share databases across websites and applications. This will prevent attackers from having access to the information across multiple locations.
- Give accounts that connect to the SQL database only the minimum privileges needed. This will prevent attackers from having easy access to the website and make you less vulnerable.
- Use prepared queries with definitive parameters that define all the SQL code so attackers can’t change the intent of a query later, making your site less at risk of the code being altered.
Stay Safe Online Against SQL Injection Attacks With NEBRC
It’s important to be aware of how SQL injection attacks work and how to make yourself less vulnerable to them. For further guidance on how to prevent SQL injection attacks against your business, contact us today.
Alternatively, you can sign up for our free core membership to stay up-to-date with the latest cyber security news, including updates on SQL injection attacks, and gain access to a wealth of handy online resources.