What Does SQL Injection Exploit in Web Applications?
Understand how SQL injection exploits improper input validation in web applications. Learn why lack of sanitization allows attackers to manipulate SQL queries and gain unauthorized database access.
Question
What does SQL injection primarily exploit?
A. Improper input validation in web applications
B. Outdated cryptographic algorithms
C. Weak file permissions
D. Misconfigured firewalls
Answer
A. Improper input validation in web applications
Explanation
SQL injection occurs when user input is not properly sanitized.
SQL injection primarily exploits improper input validation in web applications. It occurs when user-supplied input is accepted and processed by the backend database without sufficient sanitization or parameterization. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code into a query to alter its behavior, enabling unauthorized data access, modification, or even complete database compromise.
For example, consider an insecure query like:
SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = 'user_input' AND password = 'pass_input';
If user_input is not validated, an attacker could input ‘ OR 1=1 –, causing the query to always return true and bypass authentication.
The other options are not related to SQL injection’s root cause:
B. Outdated cryptographic algorithms: These weaken encryption but do not relate to database query manipulation.
C. Weak file permissions: Affects file access security, not database injection.
D. Misconfigured firewalls: Impacts network protection, not input handling in SQL queries.
Ethical Hacking with Metasploit, SQL & Crypto certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Ethical Hacking with Metasploit, SQL & Crypto exam and earn Ethical Hacking with Metasploit, SQL & Crypto certificate.