Weakness (CWE)
CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command
The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.
How to prevent it (8 mitigations)
-
Architecture and Design
Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid [REF-1482].
For example, consider using persistence layers such as Hibernate or Enterprise Java Beans, which can provide significant protection against SQL injection if used properly.
-
Architecture and Design
If available, use structured mechanisms that automatically enforce the separation between data and code. These mechanisms may be able to provide the relevant quoting, encoding, and validation automatically, instead of relying on the developer to provide this capability at every point where output is generated.
Process SQL queries using prepared statements, parameterized queries, or stored procedures. These features should accept parameters or variables and support strong typing. Do not dynamically construct and execute query strings within these features using "exec" or similar functionality, since this may re-introduce the possibility of SQL injection. [REF-867]
-
Architecture and Design, Operation
Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks [REF-76]. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.
Specifically, follow the principle of least privilege when creating user accounts to a SQL database. The database users should only have the minimum privileges necessary to use their account. If the requirements of the system indicate that a user can read and modify their own data, then limit their privileges so they cannot read/write others' data. Use the strictest permissions possible on all database objects, such as execute-only for stored procedures.
-
Architecture and Design
For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
-
Implementation
While it is risky to use dynamically-generated query strings, code, or commands that mix control and data together, sometimes it may be unavoidable. Properly quote arguments and escape any special characters within those arguments. The most conservative approach is to escape or filter all characters that do not pass an extremely strict allowlist (such as everything that is not alphanumeric or white space). If some special characters are still needed, such as white space, wrap each argument in quotes after the escaping/filtering step. Be careful of argument injection (CWE-88).
Instead of building a new implementation, such features may be available in the database or programming language. For example, the Oracle DBMS_ASSERT package can check or enforce that parameters have certain properties that make them less vulnerable to SQL injection. For MySQL, the mysql_real_escape_string() API function is available in both C and PHP.
-
Implementation
Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue."
Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
When constructing SQL query strings, use stringent allowlists that limit the character set based on the expected value of the parameter in the request. This will indirectly limit the scope of an attack, but this technique is less important than proper output encoding and escaping.
Note that proper output encoding, escaping, and quoting is the most effective solution for preventing SQL injection, although input validation may provide some defense-in-depth. This is because it effectively limits what will appear in output. Input validation will not always prevent SQL injection, especially if you are required to support free-form text fields that could contain arbitrary characters. For example, the name "O'Reilly" would likely pass the validation step, since it is a common last name in the English language. However, it cannot be directly inserted into the database because it contains the "'" apostrophe character, which would need to be escaped or otherwise handled. In this case, stripping the apostrophe might reduce the risk of SQL injection, but it would produce incorrect behavior because the wrong name would be recorded.
When feasible, it may be safest to disallow meta-characters entirely, instead of escaping them. This will provide some defense in depth. After the data is entered into the database, later processes may neglect to escape meta-characters before use, and you may not have control over those processes.
-
Architecture and Design
When the set of acceptable objects, such as filenames or URLs, is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames or URLs, and reject all other inputs.
-
Implementation
Ensure that error messages only contain minimal details that are useful to the intended audience and no one else. The messages need to strike the balance between being too cryptic (which can confuse users) or being too detailed (which may reveal more than intended). The messages should not reveal the methods that were used to determine the error. Attackers can use detailed information to refine or optimize their original attack, thereby increasing their chances of success.
If errors must be captured in some detail, record them in log messages, but consider what could occur if the log messages can be viewed by attackers. Highly sensitive information such as passwords should never be saved to log files.
Avoid inconsistent messaging that might accidentally tip off an attacker about internal state, such as whether a user account exists or not.
In the context of SQL Injection, error messages revealing the structure of a SQL query can help attackers tailor successful attack strings.
Source: MITRE CWE-89
4,517 results · Clear filters · Feed
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects Chat System confirm_password.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in code-projects Chat System up to 1.0 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /user/confirm_password.php. The manipulation of the argument cid leads to sql injection. The attack may be init…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Nipah Virus Testing Management System test-details.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in PHPGurukul Nipah Virus Testing Management System 1.0. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /test-details.php. The manipulation of the argument assignto leads to s…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Nipah Virus Testing Management System patient-report.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in PHPGurukul Nipah Virus Testing Management System 1.0. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file /patient-report.php. The manipulation of the argument searchdata leads to sql injection. It is p…
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects Patient Record Management System urinalysis_record.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in code-projects Patient Record Management System 1.0 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /urinalysis_record.php. The manipulation of the argument itr_no leads to sql injection. The atta…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System adminprofile.php sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System 1.3. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin/adminprofile.php. The manipulation of the argument AdminName leads to sql injec…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System allemployees.php sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System 1.3. Affected is an unknown function of the file /admin/allemployees.php. The manipulation of the argument delid leads to sql injection. It is possible to la…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System myexp.php sql injection
A vulnerability has been found in PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System 1.3 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /myexp.php. The manipulation of the argument emp3ctc leads to sql injection. The attack can be i…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System editmyexp.php sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System 1.3. This affects an unknown part of the file /editmyexp.php. The manipulation of the argument emp3workduration leads to sql injection. It is possible…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System resetpassword.php sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHPGurukul Employee Record Management System 1.3. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /resetpassword.php. The manipulation of the argument newpassword leads to s…
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects Patient Record Management System view_dental.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in code-projects Patient Record Management System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /view_dental.php. The manipulation of the argument itr_no leads to sql injection. The …
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects Patient Record Management System birthing.php sql injection
A vulnerability has been found in code-projects Patient Record Management System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /birthing.php. The manipulation of the argument itr_no/comp_id leads to sql…
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects Patient Record Management System view_hematology.php sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in code-projects Patient Record Management System 1.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file view_hematology.php. The manipulation of the argument itr_no leads to sql injection. It is possible…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul BP Monitoring Management System edit-family-member.php sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHPGurukul BP Monitoring Management System 1.0. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /edit-family-member.php. The manipulation of the argument memberage leads to sql inject…
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects Health Center Patient Record Management System birthing_record.php sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in code-projects Health Center Patient Record Management System 1.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file /birthing_record.php. The manipulation of the argument itr_no leads to sql injection.…
-
Medium 6.5
WP-Addpub <= 1.2.8 - Authenticated (Contributor+) SQL Injection
The WP-Addpub plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the 'wp-addpub' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.8 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL quer…
-
Medium 4.9
WP Online Users Stats <= 1.0.0 - Authenticated (Editor+) SQL Injection via table_name Parameter
The WP Online Users Stats plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the ‘table_name’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.0 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation …
-
Medium 6.3
Brilliance Golden Link Secondary System logSelect.htm sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Brilliance Golden Link Secondary System up to 20250424. Affected is an unknown function of the file /sysframework/logSelect.htm. The manipulation of the argument nodename leads to sql injection. …
-
Medium 6.3
Brilliance Golden Link Secondary System tcCustDeferPosiQuery.htm sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Brilliance Golden Link Secondary System up to 20250424. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /reprotframework/tcCustDeferPosiQuery.htm. The manipulation of the argument cus…
-
Medium 6.3
Brilliance Golden Link Secondary System rentChangeCheckInfoPage.htm sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Brilliance Golden Link Secondary System up to 20250424. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /storagework/rentChangeCheckInfoPage.htm. The manipulation of the argument clientname leads to sql …
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Human Metapneumovirus Testing Management System search-report-result.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in PHPGurukul Human Metapneumovirus Testing Management System 1.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /search-report-result.php. The manipulation of the argument serachdata…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Human Metapneumovirus Testing Management System bwdates-report-result.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in PHPGurukul Human Metapneumovirus Testing Management System 1.0. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /bwdates-report-result.php. The manipulation of the argument …
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects Patient Record Management System urinalysis_form.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in code-projects Patient Record Management System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file urinalysis_form.php. The manipulation of the argument urinalysis_id leads to sql injec…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Medical Card Generation System manage-card.php sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHPGurukul Medical Card Generation System 1.0. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /admin/manage-card.php. The manipulation of the argument ID leads to sql injection. The …
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Medical Card Generation System unreadenq.php sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in PHPGurukul Medical Card Generation System 1.0. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /admin/unreadenq.php. The manipulation of the argument ID leads to sql injection. The attack can be initiate…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Medical Card Generation System readenq.php sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in PHPGurukul Medical Card Generation System 1.0. This affects an unknown part of the file /admin/readenq.php. The manipulation of the argument ID leads to sql injection. It is possible to initiate the att…
-
Medium 6.5
Extension - rsjoomla.com - A SQLi vulnerability RSMediaGallery component 1.7.4 - 2.1.6 for Joomla
A SQLi vulnerability in RSMediaGallery component 1.7.4 - 2.1.6 for Joomla was discovered. The vulnerability is due to the use of unescaped user-supplied parameters in SQL queries within the dashboard component. This allows an authenticated attacker to inject …
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System register-complaint.php sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /user/register-complaint.php. The manipulation of the argument noc leads to sql i…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System profile.php sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /user/profile.php. The manipulation of the argument pincode leads to sql injection. The atta…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System updatecomplaint.php sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file /admin/updatecomplaint.php. The manipulation of the argument Status leads to sql injection. It is possible to laun…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System manage-users.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /admin/manage-users.php. The manipulation of the argument uid leads to sql injection. The attack may…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System edit-category.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /admin/edit-category.php. The manipulation of the argument description leads to sql injection. The a…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System edit-subcategory.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the file /admin/edit-subcategory.php. The manipulation of the argument subcategory leads to sql injection. It is possi…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System edit-state.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /admin/edit-state.php. The manipulation of the argument description leads to sql injection. Th…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System between-date-userreport.php sql injection
A vulnerability has been found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin/between-date-userreport.php. The manipulation of the argument fromdate/todat…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Complaint Management System between-date-complaintreport.php sql injection
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file /admin/between-date-complaintreport.php. The manipulation of the argument fromdate/todate leads to sql inje…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Notice Board System admin-profile.php sql injection
A vulnerability has been found in PHPGurukul Notice Board System 1.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin-profile.php. The manipulation of the argument mobilenumber leads to sql injection. T…
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects/anirbandutta9 Content Management System/News-Buzz users.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in code-projects/anirbandutta9 Content Management System and News-Buzz 1.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /admin/users.php. The manipulation of the argument delete lea…
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects/anirbandutta9 Content Management System/News-Buzz users.php sql injection
A vulnerability was found in code-projects/anirbandutta9 Content Management System and News-Buzz 1.0. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin/users.php. The manipulation of the argument c…
-
Medium 6.3
code-projects Patient Record Management System sputum_form.php sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in code-projects Patient Record Management System 1.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /sputum_form.php. The manipulation of the argument itr_no leads to sql injection. Th…
-
Medium 6.3
PHPGurukul Online Fire Reporting System edit-team.php sql injection
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in PHPGurukul Online Fire Reporting System 1.2. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /admin/edit-team.php. The manipulation of the argument teamid leads to sql injection. The attack can be initia…