SQL Injection in Drupal: Identifying and Preventing SQLi Vulnerabilities

Introduction
Drupal is one of the most powerful content management systems (CMS), trusted by large corporations, nonprofits, and government entities for building secure websites. However, like any platform, Drupal can be vulnerable to cyber threats, especially SQL Injection (SQLi) attacks. SQLi is a serious cybersecurity concern that can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and critical damage to your website and business reputation.

In this guide, we’ll explore how SQL injection attacks work in Drupal, share a simple coding example, and demonstrate how you can proactively protect your site using the Free Website Security Checker.

What is SQL Injection (SQLi)?

SQL Injection is a web security vulnerability that allows attackers to interfere with a website's SQL queries. Through SQLi, hackers can manipulate or "inject" malicious SQL statements into the site’s database, potentially accessing sensitive information, altering data, or even taking control of the database entirely.

Why Drupal Websites Are Vulnerable

Drupal is designed with robust security features, but improper configurations, outdated modules, or custom code can introduce SQLi vulnerabilities. A single unchecked input field could open doors for attackers to infiltrate the database, highlighting the importance of regular security assessments.

Detecting SQL Injection Vulnerabilities in Drupal

Running vulnerability assessments regularly is essential. The Free Website Security Checker tool from Pentest Testing Corp helps identify weak points in your website’s structure, including SQLi risks.

Using this tool, you can scan your Drupal site to get a comprehensive vulnerability assessment report, pinpointing areas that need immediate attention.

SQL Injection Example in Drupal

Below is a simple example to demonstrate how SQL injection vulnerabilities can appear in Drupal applications. In this example, the vulnerability exists because the user input is not sanitized properly.

php

Copy code

<?php

// Sample vulnerable code in Drupal

$query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE uid = " . $_GET['uid'];

$result = db_query($query);

In this scenario, the uid parameter is taken directly from user input without validation, allowing an attacker to inject SQL commands into the query.

To protect against this, always use parameterized queries or Drupal’s database API functions to sanitize user input, like so:

php

<?php

// Secure version using Drupal's API

$uid = \Drupal::request()->query->get('uid');

$query = \Drupal::database()->select('users', 'u')

           ->fields('u')

           ->condition('uid', $uid)

           ->execute();

In this corrected example, user input is properly sanitized, significantly reducing the risk of SQL injection.

Using Our Free Security Checker Tool

Regularly scanning your website is one of the most effective ways to ensure it remains secure. With the Free Website Security Checker tool, you can instantly evaluate your Drupal site’s vulnerabilities and receive a detailed report, so you know exactly what steps to take.