Exploiting SQL Injection Vulnerabilities & Cross-site Scripting (XSS)

Objectives: This workshop explored practical demonstrations and conceptual understanding of SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities. It aimed to equip participants with the ability to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications. Topics covered included SQL query manipulation, authentication bypassing, and tool-based exploitation using SQLMap. Key defensive measures, such as input validation and hashing practices, were also discussed.

The Key Takeaways and Final Points: 

SQL Injection Basics and Demonstrations:

• Exploiting vulnerabilities in user inputs to manipulate backend SQL queries.
• Demonstrated authentication bypass using SQL Injection (‘ OR ‘1’=’1) to access restricted areas without credentials.
• Tools like nmap and SQLMap were used for vulnerability detection and data extraction.

Defensive Techniques:

• Implementing input sanitization and validation to mitigate SQL Injection risks.
• Securing passwords with hashing (e.g., MD5, SHA-1) and adding salts for enhanced protection.

Importance of Reconnaissance and Automation:

• Using tools like nmap for preliminary database and vulnerability identification.
• Leveraging SQLMap for automated vulnerability testing and efficient data extraction.