SQL Injection Isn't Dead: Smuggling Queries at the Protocol Level
Paul Gerste's presentation at DEF CON 32 emphasized SQL injection threats, particularly in PostgreSQL and MongoDB, highlighting vulnerabilities from message size overflows and the need for effective size limits to enhance security.
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A recent presentation by Paul Gerste at DEF CON 32 highlighted the ongoing threat of SQL injection attacks, particularly through vulnerabilities in database binary protocols. Gerste demonstrated how certain databases, including PostgreSQL and MongoDB, can be exploited using specially crafted SQL queries. One method involves a message size overflow in PostgreSQL, where an attacker can embed a string exceeding 4GB, surpassing the protocol's maximum string length and allowing data manipulation. Similar vulnerabilities were noted in MongoDB. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to enforce size limits on incoming requests. However, this can be challenging, as alternative communication methods like WebSockets may circumvent existing limits, and some servers might impose restrictions before decompressing data, enabling attackers to send oversized compressed payloads.
- SQL injection attacks continue to pose significant risks, particularly at the protocol level.
- Vulnerabilities in PostgreSQL and MongoDB can be exploited through message size overflows.
- Implementing size limits on incoming requests is crucial for protection but can be complex.
- Alternative communication methods may bypass traditional security measures.
- Awareness of these vulnerabilities is essential for database security management.
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8 commentsSQL injection isn't dead, because I stumble upon a sql injection vulnerability every other day as a part of my job.
Anyone know if DEF CON publish videos of this kind of session?
Though SQL injection and other injection attacks are definitely not dead. All it takes is one programmer mistake and poof! Lots of XSS rely on accidentally injection of some value. Also hey lots of LLM based attacks are injection. Injection is not dead... oh no oh no
So it is complex field and there is always more vectors like this.
Interesting...a security researcher that thinks it's ok to trust the client.
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Specialized databases are emerging to tackle complex data challenges, leading to intricate infrastructures. A universal, all-in-one database remains unfulfilled due to optimization issues and unique challenges of different database types.