Developers encouraged to eliminate SQL injection vulnerabilities from their software
In a joint alert issued on Monday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have urged software manufacturers to take immediate steps to eliminate SQL injection vulnerabilities in their products.
SQL, or Structured Query Language, is the programming language used to manage data in relational databases. Despite the knowledge of the risks associated with SQL injection flaws, which have been known for decades, manufacturers have allegedly failed to take sufficient steps to remove these defects from their software.
The agencies cited the role SQL injection defects played in the widespread attacks linked to MOVEit file transfer software. The alert suggests that adopting prepared statements is a reasonable measure to take, as they can separate SQL code from user-supplied data, preventing SQL injection vulnerabilities.
Spencer McIntyre, security research manager and head of Metasploit development at Rapid7, stated that libraries are likely available to support the use of prepared statements across various languages and frameworks, such as Java, .NET, PHP, and Merb's ORM.
Key practices to eliminate SQL injection vulnerabilities include:
- Use Prepared Statements and Parameterized Queries: This is the most effective method for preventing SQL injection. Prepared statements distinctly separate SQL code from user inputs, so inputs cannot alter the SQL commands executed by the database.
- Validate and Sanitize All User Inputs: Every user input should be validated to confirm it meets expected format, length, and type criteria, and sanitized to remove or escape harmful characters.
- Avoid Direct String Concatenation of User Inputs in Queries: Never embed user inputs directly into SQL queries through string concatenation, as this opens the door to injection attacks.
- Use Stored Procedures Wisely: Stored procedures can add a layer of abstraction between user inputs and SQL execution, but they must also be written carefully to avoid concatenating unsafe inputs.
- Limit Database Privileges: Assign the minimum necessary permissions to database user accounts to restrict the potential damage in case of a breach.
- Employ Security Tools and Monitoring: Use tools like Web Application Firewalls, static code analysis, and real-time monitoring to detect and prevent injection attacks.
- Keep Software Up to Date and Educate Developers: Regular patching of applications and libraries, combined with developer training on secure coding practices, reduces human errors that lead to SQL injection vulnerabilities.
These steps form a multi-layered defense strategy endorsed by CISA and the FBI to effectively eliminate SQL injection risks. By implementing these practices, manufacturers can ensure their products are secure, reducing the need for customers to search for hidden defects or change configurations after a product has been shipped and installed into a computer network.
[1] OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet: https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/SQL_Injection/Prevention_Cheat_Sheet [2] Microsoft SQL Server Best Practices for SQL Injection Prevention: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/security/sql-injection-prevention-best-practices [3] PHP: Preventing SQL Injection: https://php.net/manual/en/security.database.sql-injection.php [4] Oracle Database Security Best Practices: https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/oracle-database/19/lnpls/best-practices-for-sql-injection-prevention.html [5] MySQL Workbench Best Practices for SQL Injection Prevention: https://dev.mysql.com/doc/workbench/en/wb_best_practices_sql_injection.html
In light of the joint alert issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), it is crucial for data-and-cloud-computing industries to address SQL injection vulnerabilities in their products. Adopting the key practices outlined by the agencies, such as using prepared statements and parameterized queries, limiting database privileges, and keeping software up to date, can significantly enhance cybersecurity by reducing the risk of SQL injection attacks.
