20 SQL injection Quiz Questions and Answers

Question 1:
What is SQL injection?
A. A method to optimize database queries
B. A security vulnerability that allows attackers to interfere with database queries via malicious input
C. A type of encryption for SQL databases
D. A programming language used for web development

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: SQL injection occurs when an attacker inserts malicious SQL code into a query, potentially allowing unauthorized access, data manipulation, or deletion by exploiting input vulnerabilities.

Question 2:
Which of the following is an example of a SQL injection attack?
A. Sending a phishing email
B. Entering ‘ OR ‘1’=’1 in a login form
C. Uploading a virus to a website
D. Changing a website’s CSS

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The input ‘ OR ‘1’=’1 can manipulate a SQL query to always return true, bypassing authentication and granting access to restricted areas.

Question 3:
What is the primary risk of SQL injection in web applications?
A. Overloading the server with traffic
B. Unauthorized access to or manipulation of database data
C. Slowing down website loading times
D. Causing hardware failures

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: SQL injection exploits input fields to alter SQL queries, leading to risks like data theft, alteration, or deletion from the database.

Question 4:
Which HTTP method is commonly associated with SQL injection vulnerabilities?
A. GET
B. POST
C. Both GET and POST
D. PUT

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: SQL injection can occur with both GET (e.g., in URL parameters) and POST (e.g., in form data) methods, as they both handle user input that can be manipulated.

Question 5:
How can parameterized queries help prevent SQL injection?
A. By encrypting the database
B. By separating SQL code from user input
C. By limiting user access to the website
D. By automatically detecting attacks

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Parameterized queries treat user input as data rather than executable code, preventing attackers from injecting malicious SQL statements.

Question 6:
What type of SQL injection involves extracting data without causing errors?
A. Error-based SQL injection
B. Blind SQL injection
C. Union-based SQL injection
D. In-band SQL injection

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Blind SQL injection infers information from the application’s behavior or responses without directly displaying database errors.

Question 7:
In a SQL query like SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ‘user_input’, what makes it vulnerable?
A. The use of SELECT
B. Directly concatenating user_input into the query
C. The WHERE clause
D. The users table

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Directly concatenating user input into the query string allows attackers to modify the query, such as by injecting additional SQL commands.

Question 8:
Which of the following is a common tool used to test for SQL injection vulnerabilities?
A. Burp Suite
B. Microsoft Word
C. Adobe Photoshop
D. Google Chrome

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Burp Suite is a popular web vulnerability scanner that can detect and exploit SQL injection flaws through automated testing.

Question 9:
What does the term “second-order SQL injection” refer to?
A. An attack that occurs in two steps
B. SQL injection through secondary systems like logs
C. A type of blind SQL injection
D. Using SQL to inject code into other languages

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Second-order SQL injection happens when malicious input is stored and later used in a query, such as in application logs or user profiles.

Question 10:
Which OWASP Top 10 category includes SQL injection?
A. Broken Authentication
B. Injection
C. Security Misconfiguration
D. Insecure Deserialization

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The OWASP Top 10 lists Injection as a category, which encompasses SQL injection and other forms of code injection attacks.

Question 11:
What is the role of input validation in preventing SQL injection?
A. It scans for viruses in inputs
B. It ensures user input conforms to expected formats before processing
C. It encrypts all database queries
D. It blocks all user inputs

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Proper input validation checks and sanitizes user data, reducing the risk of malicious SQL being executed in queries.

Question 12:
In a UNION-based SQL injection, what does the UNION operator do?
A. Combines results from multiple SELECT statements
B. Deletes data from the database
C. Encrypts the query
D. Limits the number of results

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Attackers use UNION to append their own SELECT statement to the original query, allowing them to retrieve additional data from other tables.

Question 13:
Which of the following is NOT a method to mitigate SQL injection?
A. Using stored procedures
B. Allowing all user inputs without checks
C. Employing ORM frameworks
D. Implementing least privilege for database users

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Allowing all user inputs without checks directly enables SQL injection; mitigation involves validation, parameterization, and access controls.

Question 14:
What can happen if an attacker uses SQL injection to execute a DROP TABLE command?
A. The table is permanently deleted
B. The query runs faster
C. Data is automatically backed up
D. Nothing, as DROP is not a valid command

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: If successful, a DROP TABLE command via SQL injection can erase entire tables, leading to data loss and potential system compromise.

Question 15:
How does Content Security Policy (CSP) relate to SQL injection?
A. It directly prevents SQL injection
B. It helps mitigate related web vulnerabilities but not SQL injection specifically
C. It is a type of SQL query
D. It encrypts database connections

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: CSP reduces risks from cross-site scripting (XSS), which can sometimes lead to SQL injection, but it does not directly address SQL injection flaws.

Question 16:
What is the difference between in-band and out-of-band SQL injection?
A. In-band retrieves data in the same channel, while out-of-band uses external channels
B. In-band is faster, out-of-band is slower
C. There is no difference
D. In-band uses UNION, out-of-band does not

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: In-band SQL injection extracts data directly through the same communication channel, whereas out-of-band uses methods like DNS or HTTP to exfiltrate data.

Question 17:
Which programming language is most commonly associated with SQL injection vulnerabilities in web apps?
A. Python
B. Java
C. PHP
D. All of the above

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: SQL injection can affect any language that interacts with databases, but it’s prevalent in web apps using PHP, Java, Python, or others due to poor input handling.

Question 18:
What is the first step an attacker might take to identify a SQL injection vulnerability?
A. Sending a generic payload like ‘ or 1=1–
B. Hacking the server hardware
C. Changing the website’s domain
D. Uploading files

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Testing inputs with payloads like ‘ or 1=1– helps attackers detect if the application is vulnerable by observing error messages or unexpected behavior.

Question 19:
Why is using user input in raw SQL queries dangerous?
A. It can cause syntax errors
B. It allows attackers to alter the query’s logic
C. It slows down the database
D. It requires more server resources

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Raw SQL queries with user input can be manipulated to change the intended query, enabling unauthorized actions like data extraction or modification.

Question 20:
What regulatory standard might require organizations to protect against SQL injection?
A. GDPR
B. ISO 9001
C. PCI DSS
D. All of the above

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Standards like GDPR, PCI DSS, and others mandate data protection measures, including preventing SQL injection to safeguard sensitive information.