SQL injection is an attack on a database-driven website where malicious code is inserted into SQL queries to alter, destroy, or reveal data. The attack can expose sensitive information, and it can be attempted by anyone with knowledge of SQL. Web developers are responsible for protecting against SQL injection using simple but effective methods.
A SQL (Structured Query Language) injection is a type of attack that is almost always attempted against a database-driven website. It is an attempt to insert malicious code into the site’s SQL queries in order to interfere with data management by destroying, altering or revealing the data stored in the database tables that drive the site. SQL is a standard programming language used to create, update and retrieve data stored in databases.
The dangers of SQL injection attacks are numerous and often very devastating when executed successfully. Sensitive information such as credit card numbers, a person’s medical records, usernames and passwords for accounts such as online banking and email, as well as various types of identification numbers can be exposed to cybercriminals. While data theft is probably the primary goal of anyone attempting to use SQL injection, it’s not the only motivation for using this or any other type of code injection technique, such as cross-site scripting. Visitors to a website who view information they don’t like may attempt SQL injection attacks to disable the site, steal data, or alter the data to destroy the mission of the people behind the site.
A SQL injection attack against a website is sometimes attempted by a disgruntled visitor who may have had his account banned by the site’s owners, who envies the site’s popularity, or who seeks to destroy the online business of someone he considers to be an enemy . Knowledge of SQL is obviously required to launch a SQL injection attack, but it is generally not considered to be a very difficult language to learn, compared to other programming languages, and much can only be achieved with a basic, yet solid, understanding of how use it. This means that there are a good number of people surfing the Internet who have the skill to attempt SQL injection against a website.
Web developers, especially those who specialize in back-end web development, are responsible for ensuring that the sites they program are protected from SQL injection. There is almost always more than one way to achieve such an important security and most of these methods are considered simple but very effective solutions. For example, a developer can use the mysql_real_escape_string() function or prepared statements when scripting in the Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) language. The methods chosen to defend against attacks must be carefully considered, because the performance of the site as a whole cannot be neglected even when setting up security.
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