automatic SQL injection and database takeover tool (2024)

sqlmap is an open source penetration testing tool that automates the process of detecting and exploiting SQL injection flaws and taking over of database servers. It comes with a powerful detection engine, many niche features for the ultimate penetration tester and a broad range of switches lasting from database fingerprinting, over data fetching from the database, to accessing the underlying file system and executing commands on the operating system via out-of-band connections.

automatic SQL injection and database takeover tool (1)

  • Full support for MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, IBM DB2, SQLite, Firebird, Sybase, SAP MaxDB, Informix, MariaDB, MemSQL, TiDB, co*ckroachDB, HSQLDB, H2, MonetDB, Apache Derby, Amazon Redshift, Vertica, Mckoi, Presto, Altibase, MimerSQL, CrateDB, Greenplum, Drizzle, Apache Ignite, Cubrid, InterSystems Cache, IRIS, eXtremeDB, FrontBase, Raima Database Manager, YugabyteDB, Aurora, OpenGauss, ClickHouse and Virtuoso database management systems.
  • Full support for six SQL injection techniques: boolean-based blind, time-based blind, error-based, UNION query-based, stacked queries and out-of-band.
  • Support to directly connect to the database without passing via a SQL injection, by providing DBMS credentials, IP address, port and database name.
  • Support to enumerate users, password hashes, privileges, roles, databases, tables and columns.
  • Automatic recognition of password hash formats and support for cracking them using a dictionary-based attack.
  • Support to dump database tables entirely, a range of entries or specific columns as per user's choice. The user can also choose to dump only a range of characters from each column's entry.
  • Support to search for specific database names, specific tables across all databases or specific columns across all databases' tables. This is useful, for instance, to identify tables containing custom application credentials where relevant columns' names contain string like name and pass.
  • Support to download and upload any file from the database server underlying file system when the database software is MySQL, PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL Server.
  • Support to execute arbitrary commands and retrieve their standard output on the database server underlying operating system when the database software is MySQL, PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL Server.
  • Support to establish an out-of-band stateful TCP connection between the attacker machine and the database server underlying operating system. This channel can be an interactive command prompt, a Meterpreter session or a graphical user interface (VNC) session as per user's choice.
  • Support for database process' user privilege escalation via Metasploit's Meterpreter getsystem command.

Refer to the wiki for an exhaustive breakdown of the features.

You can download the latest zipball or tarball.

Preferably, you can download sqlmap by cloning the Git repository:

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sqlmapproject/sqlmap.git sqlmap-dev

Watch more demos here.

All code contributions are greatly appreciated. First off, clone the Git repository, read the user's manual carefully, go through the code yourself and drop us an email if you are having a hard time grasping its structure and meaning.

Bug reports are welcome! Please report all bugs on the issue tracker. Our preferred method of patch submission is via a Git pull request.

Each patch should make one logical change. Please follow the existing stylistic conventions: wrap code to 76 columns when possible. Avoid tabs, use four space characters instead. Before you put time into a non-trivial patch, it is worth discussing it privately by email.

Many people have contributed in different ways to the sqlmap development. You can be the next!

sqlmap is the result of numerous hours of passionated work from a small team of computer security enthusiasts. If you appreciated our work and you want to see sqlmap kept being developed, please consider making a donation or sponsor our efforts via Sponsor page or via PayPal.

We also accept Ƀitcoins to 1AUrrKYsamBEThdruYTQmUfMfLF7aaxU6x.

Copyright © 2006-2024 by Bernardo Damele Assumpcao Guimaraes and Miroslav Stampar. All rights reserved.

This program is free software; you may redistribute and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; Version 2 (or later) with the clarifications and exceptions described in the license file. This guarantees your right to use, modify, and redistribute this software under certain conditions. If you wish to embed sqlmap technology into proprietary software, we sell alternative licenses(contact sales@sqlmap.org).

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License v2.0 for more details at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html.

Usage of sqlmap for attacking targets without prior mutual consent is illegal. It is the end user's responsibility to obey all applicable local, state and federal laws. Developers assume no liability and are not responsible for any misuse or damage caused by this program.

You can contact the development team by writing to dev@sqlmap.org.

automatic SQL injection and database takeover tool (2024)

FAQs

Which of the following tools can detect and exploit database vulnerabilities using SQL injection automatically? ›

sqlmap has a powerful detection engine that can automatically detect and exploit SQL injection vulnerabilities. It can also perform various tests, such as fingerprinting the database management system, retrieving data from the database, and executing arbitrary commands.

Why do we need an automated tool for SQL injection? ›

Automated SQL Injection Testing

The tools can help create the right framework so that test scripts can be created. Templates will be easier to test against different types of attacks. The easier the potential attacks can be detected, the safer the website or the web application is going to be.

Is SQLmap illegal? ›

Usage of sqlmap for attacking targets without prior mutual consent is illegal. It is the end user's responsibility to obey all applicable local, state and federal laws.

What is SQLmap automated SQL injection tool? ›

SQLmap is an open-source tool used in penetration testing to detect and exploit SQL injection flaws. SQLmap automates the process of detecting and exploiting SQL injection. SQL Injection attacks can take control of databases that utilize SQL.

Which of the following is an automatic tool for an SQL injection? ›

SQLmap. SQLMap is the open source SQL injection tool and most popular among all SQL injection tools available. This tool makes it easy to exploit the SQL injection vulnerability of a web application and take over the database server.

What are the methods used to detect SQL injection vulnerabilities? ›

The tester has to make a list of all input fields whose values could be used in crafting a SQL query, including the hidden fields of POST requests, and then test them separately, trying to interfere with the query and to generate an error. Consider also HTTP headers and Cookies.

Who is vulnerable to SQL injection? ›

An SQL Injection vulnerability may affect any website or web application that uses an SQL database such as MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, or others.

What types of databases are more vulnerable to SQL injections? ›

Most SQL Injection (SQLi) attacks occur on MySQL databases frequently used by applications like Joomla and WordPress. Attackers exploit SQLi vulnerabilities by inserting malicious SQL commands into your website through open fields like insecure contact forms.

What are the risks of SQL injection? ›

Once exploited, SQL Injection attacks can lead to: Theft, modification, or even destruction of sensitive data such as personally identifiable information and usernames and passwords.

What is better than SQLmap? ›

Other important factors to consider when researching alternatives to SQLmap include user interface and security. We have compiled a list of solutions that reviewers voted as the best overall alternatives and competitors to SQLmap, including Metasploit, Acunetix by Invicti, Invicti (formerly Netsparker), and Intruder.

Is attempting SQL injection a crime? ›

Note: Performing SQL Injection in the real-world on any website is illegal.

Is SQLmap traceable? ›

This answer also depends on what you mean by traced and also what configurations you use for sqlmap, but if we go with the typical meaning of traced in cybersecurity — meaning that someone could find out you used sqlmap against their platform — then with default sqlmap configurations, yes you would be traceable.

Is SQLMap useful? ›

Conclusion. Serving as a cornerstone tool for penetration testing, SQLmap is not only helpful when pinpointing SQL injection vulnerabilities but is also instrumental in exploiting them. This allows security professionals to find critical weak points in web applications.

Who uses SQLMap? ›

Understanding SQLmap:

It leverages a range of techniques to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications that use SQL-based databases. Developed in Python, SQLmap offers many features that make it a preferred choice among hackers and security professionals.

Where is SQLMap used? ›

SQLMap is a tool used for the automated exploitation of SQL injection vulnerabilities. We can use SQLMap to test websites and databases for vulnerabilities and exploit those vulnerabilities to take over the database. To use SQLMap, we first need to identify a website or database that is vulnerable to SQL injection.

What is the tool to check SQL vulnerability? ›

You can use Burp to test for these vulnerabilities: Professional Use Burp Scanner to automatically flag potential SQL injection vulnerabilities. Use Burp Intruder to insert a list of SQL fuzz strings into a request. This may enable you to change the way SQL commands are executed.

Which databases are vulnerable to SQL injection? ›

If a web application or website uses SQL databases like Oracle, SQL Server, or MySQL, it is vulnerable to an SQL injection attack. Hackers use SQL injection attacks to access sensitive business or personally identifiable information (PII), which ultimately increases sensitive data exposure.

Can SQLmap test for vulnerabilities on database? ›

Serving as a cornerstone tool for penetration testing, SQLmap is not only helpful when pinpointing SQL injection vulnerabilities but is also instrumental in exploiting them. This allows security professionals to find critical weak points in web applications.

What is SQL injection and how is it used to exploit a system? ›

SQL injection, also known as SQLI, is a common attack vector that uses malicious SQL code for backend database manipulation to access information that was not intended to be displayed. This information may include any number of items, including sensitive company data, user lists or private customer details.

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