ExtraHop named a Leader in the 2025 Forrester Wave™: Network Analysis And Visibility Solutions

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DETECTION OVERVIEW

SQL Injection Activity (HTTP Query)

Risk Factors

SQL injection (SQLi) attacks are common and can be easily performed with automation tools. Often, web applications contain vulnerabilities that enable SQLi attempts to be successful. Depending on the type of malicious SQL query and the ultimate objective of the attacker, the impact to a business can be significant if sensitive data is stolen or manipulated.

The system might change the risk score for this detection.

Category

Exploitation
Detection diagram
Next in Exploitation: SSH Brute Force

Attack Background

Database-driven web applications enable users to make purchases or access secure information. For example, a username and password becomes part of a query that the web application runs against a relational database. SQLi attacks manipulate underlying database queries by inserting unvalidated or untrusted data to form a new query. If the web application lacks proper input validation, the attacker-crafted SQL query runs the malicious query, resulting in possible sensitive data exposure, exfiltration, or manipulation. For example, "if true" SQL statements (OR 1=1) or comment delimiters (-- ;) that are injected after a username can create a query that bypasses authentication controls.

Mitigation Options

Implement the least privilege model for application accounts and remove root or system access on database accounts, which can help minimize potential damage

Implement prepared statements with parameterized queries, which enables the database to clearly distinguish between code and user input

Implement stored procedures that enforce parameterized queries

Enforce input validation

Review the SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet provided by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)

MITRE ATT&CK ID

Associated content

Announcing The Forrester Wave™: Network Analysis And Visibility Solutions, Q4 2025

Network analysis and visibility solutions remain underrepresented in enterprises. Find out why in this preview of a new Wave report.

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ExtraHop® Named a Leader in First-Ever Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Network Detection and Response — ExtraHop

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News

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Docs

The 2025 ExtraHop Global Threat Landscape Report: The Alarming Reality of Threat Actor Dwell Time and Deeper Network Access — ExtraHop

This analysis exposes the critical link between an organization's lack of internal visibility and the escalating cost of compromise, demanding an urgent re-evaluation of how core business assets are protected.

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ExtraHop RevealX MITRE ATT&CK Coverage 2024 — ExtraHop

Learn why you need to be wary of the claims certain network detection and response providers make about their coverage against the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

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MITRE ATT&CK - Network Detection & Response with RevealX — ExtraHop

Learn how NDR from RevealX helps security teams detect and investigate more adversary TTPs in the MITRE ATT&CK framework than rule-based tools.

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