βI was reviewing the details of the MOVEit data breach in May 2023, which resulted from an SQL injection attack. Since SQL injection vulnerabilities were first identified in 1998, it is concerning that this type of security flaw still presents issues in 2024, as evidenced by another similar attack a few weeks ago. I am seeking clarification on why this longstanding vulnerability continues to be a problem despite its long-standing recognition and the availability of well-documented prevention techniques.β - Anon
Thoughtsβ¦ π
According to a 2023 report by Statista, SQL Injection is the primary source of web application critical vulnerabilities globally, accounting for 23% of such vulnerabilities.
For context, there are thousands of critical vulnerabilities that exist in web applications worldwide, so this is a pretty big deal.
For the record, an SQL injection is where an attacker manipulates a website into running malicious commands by inserting (or "injecting") these commands into places where the website expects to receive harmless inputs, like a username or password field.
These injections can allow the attacker to view, change, or delete data from the underlying database that they shouldn't have access to, such as personal information or financial details.
Database admins and programmers are not necessarily security professionals, and itβs common to find that they are a long way behind in keeping up with best security practices. We need to adopt more secure coding practices across the board, even if it's a development database, especially regarding SQL Injection attacks.
So how do we solve it?
Here are two simple ways:
Parameterized Queries: These tools ensure attackers can't alter a query's purpose by inserting harmful SQL commands. For instance, if a hacker tries to manipulate a search term, parameterized queries treat the input literally, searching for the exact string rather than executing any part of it as a command. Even if a user inputs something malicious, it will be treated as plaintext rather than executable SQL.
Input Validation: By implementing input validation techniques like whitelisting (allowing only safe inputs) and blacklisting (blocking dangerous inputs), you can ensure that only appropriate and expected data is processed in your SQL queries.
For example, suppose you have a website form where users can select a country from a list to perform a search. To ensure only valid data is submitted, you create a list of acceptable country names, such as "USA," "Canada," and "Mexico." When a user submits their form, the system checks if the country they entered is on this approved list. If it is, the search goes ahead; if not, the input is rejected.
By following these best practices, you can secure your application against SQL Injection attacks.