SQL Injection

SQL Injection is a critical injection exploitation technique within the Payload Execution phase where attackers manipulate input fields to insert malicious SQL statements that are executed by the application's database engine. This attack vector exploits inadequate input validation and parameterization, allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, retrieve sensitive data, modify database content, execute administrative operations, or even gain remote code execution on the underlying server. SQL injection vulnerabilities occur when applications construct database queries by concatenating user input directly into SQL statements rather than using prepared statements, stored procedures, or proper input sanitization. Advanced SQL injection techniques include time-based blind injection (inferring data through time delays), error-based injection (extracting information from error messages), union-based injection (combining attack queries with legitimate ones), and second-order injection where malicious payloads are stored for later execution. The impact of successful SQL injection can be devastating, potentially compromising entire databases containing sensitive customer information, authentication credentials, or proprietary data.