: This is the SQL comment symbol. It tells the database to ignore everything that follows it in the code, effectively "muting" the rest of the original, legitimate query.
: These are placeholders. For a UNION attack to work, the second query must have the exact same number of columns as the first. Attackers use NULL to test and match the column count without causing data type errors.
: This is the heart of the attack. It combines the results of the original query with a new query defined by the attacker. : This is the SQL comment symbol
: Instead of building query strings with user input, use placeholders ( ? ). This ensures the database treats input as literal text, not executable code.
To protect an application from this specific type of attack, developers should follow these industry-standard practices: For a UNION attack to work, the second
: A random string (cache-buster or signature) often used by automated scanning tools like SQLmap to track the success of a specific injection attempt. ⚠️ Security Implications
If an application is susceptible to this payload, it means the developer is not properly or using parameterized queries . This leads to several critical risks: It combines the results of the original query
Are you currently , or