Table of Contents
What Is Error-Based SQL Injection and How Does It Extract Data?
Understand how error-based SQL injection techniques work by exploiting database error messages to retrieve information. Learn why error-based SQLi is one of the most direct methods for data extraction during vulnerability testing.
Question
Which SQL injection technique extracts data by forcing the database to generate error messages?
A. Union-based
B. Blind Boolean-based
C. Time-based
D. Error-based
Answer
D. Error-based
Explanation
Error-based SQLi leverages database error messages to reveal data.
Error-based SQL injection is a technique that extracts information from a database by intentionally causing the application to produce error messages. These error messages, often containing database-specific syntax or debugging details, help an attacker retrieve valuable information such as table names, column names, and data values.
When the web application fails to properly handle exceptions generated by malformed SQL queries, the database engine returns detailed errors. Attackers craft malicious inputs to trigger and read these errors, effectively manipulating the database into displaying internal information.
For example:
' ORDER BY 1-- ' AND EXP(~(SELECT * FROM users))--
If the database returns errors like “Unknown column” or “Conversion failed”, the attacker can iteratively refine queries until meaningful data is revealed.
The other options describe different SQL injection methods:
A. Union-based – Combines results from multiple queries using the UNION operator to extract visible data.
B. Blind Boolean-based – Infers information through true/false logic without displaying error messages.
C. Time-based – Determines conditions by measuring server response delays when no data is directly returned.
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