What is an SQL Injection?

An SQL injection is an attack in which an attacker injects malicious code into an SQL query to gain unauthorised access to databases or manipulate data. This is typically done by entering specially formatted input into web forms or URL parameters that are then embedded into an SQL query.

The purpose of an SQL injection can be to retrieve or modify data in order to steal confidential information, corrupt the integrity of data or compromise the availability of systems. SQL injection is one of the most common methods of exploiting security vulnerabilities in web applications. It is important to ensure that web applications are protected against SQL injection attacks by, for example, validating input or using prepared statements to execute SQL queries.