sql-injection-anti-pattern

Included with Lifetime

$97 forever

Security anti-pattern for SQL Injection vulnerabilities (CWE-89). Use when generating or reviewing code that constructs database queries, builds SQL statements, or handles user input in database operations. Detects string concatenation in queries and recommends parameterized queries.

Backend & APIs

What this skill does


# SQL Injection Anti-Pattern

**Severity:** Critical

## Summary

Attackers execute arbitrary SQL commands by manipulating user input. String concatenation in queries (frequently AI-generated from insecure training data) enables database compromise, data exfiltration, authentication bypass, and remote code execution.

## The Anti-Pattern

The anti-pattern is concatenating user data into SQL statements, allowing attackers to break query structure and inject malicious SQL.

### BAD Code Example

```python
# VULNERABLE: String concatenation creates injection vector.
import sqlite3

def get_user(db_connection, username):
    # User input concatenated directly into query.
    query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '" + username + "'"
    cursor = db_connection.cursor()
    cursor.execute(query)
    return cursor.fetchone()

# Attack: username = "admin' OR '1'='1' --"
# Result: "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = 'admin' OR '1'='1' --'"
# Returns all users, bypassing authentication.
```

### GOOD Code Example

```python
# SECURE: Parameterized queries prevent injection.
import sqlite3

def get_user(db_connection, username):
    # Parameters sent separately and escaped by database driver.
    # Malicious input cannot alter query logic.
    query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?"
    cursor = db_connection.cursor()
    cursor.execute(query, (username,))
    return cursor.fetchone()

# Named parameters (preferred for clarity):
# query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :username"
# cursor.execute(query, {"username": username})
```

## Detection

- Look for string concatenation (`+`, `||`, `concat()`, f-strings, template literals) used to build SQL queries.
- Search for calls to `execute()`, `query()`, or `raw()` that take a single string variable which may contain user input.
- Check for the use of `.format()`, `%s`, or `${}` within SQL query strings.
- Review any code that dynamically constructs SQL based on user input without proper parameterization.

## Prevention

- [ ] **Use parameterized queries:** Always use prepared statements for all database operations.
- [ ] **Never concatenate user input:** Avoid direct string concatenation in SQL.
- [ ] **Use ORM libraries:** Tools with built-in SQL injection protection (SQLAlchemy, Django ORM, Hibernate).
- [ ] **Apply least privilege:** Database accounts should have minimal necessary permissions.
- [ ] **Validate input as defense-in-depth:** Not primary defense, but supplements parameterization.

## Related Security Patterns & Anti-Patterns

- [Command Injection Anti-Pattern](../command-injection/): Similar injection vulnerability but for shell commands.
- [LDAP Injection Anti-Pattern](../ldap-injection/): Injection vulnerability in LDAP queries.
- [XPath Injection Anti-Pattern](../xpath-injection/): Injection vulnerability in XML queries.
- [Missing Input Validation Anti-Pattern](../missing-input-validation/): A root cause that enables many injection attacks.

## References

- [OWASP Top 10 A05:2025 - Injection](https://owasp.org/Top10/2025/A05_2025-Injection/)
- [OWASP GenAI LLM01:2025 - Prompt Injection](https://genai.owasp.org/llmrisk/llm01-prompt-injection/)
- [OWASP API Security API8:2023 - Security Misconfiguration](https://owasp.org/API-Security/editions/2023/en/0xa8-security-misconfiguration/)
- [OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet](https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/SQL_Injection_Prevention_Cheat_Sheet.html)
- [CWE-89: SQL Injection](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/89.html)
- [CAPEC-66: SQL Injection](https://capec.mitre.org/data/definitions/66.html)
- [PortSwigger: Sql Injection](https://portswigger.net/web-security/sql-injection)
- Source: [sec-context](https://github.com/Arcanum-Sec/sec-context)

Files: 1

Size: 4.0 KB

Complexity: 9/100

Category: Backend & APIs

Source: https://github.com/igbuend/grimbard/tree/main/skills/sql-injection-anti-pattern

Related in Backend & APIs

jfrog

Included

Interact with the JFrog Platform via the JFrog CLI and REST/GraphQL APIs. Use this skill when the user wants to manage Artifactory repositories, upload or download artifacts, manage builds, configure permissions, manage users and groups, work with access tokens, configure JFrog CLI servers, search artifacts, manage properties, set up replication, manage JFrog Projects, run security audits or scans, look up CVE details, query exposures scan results from JFrog Advanced Security, manage release bundles and lifecycle operations, aggregate or export platform data, or perform any JFrog Platform administration task. Also use when the user mentions jf, jfrog, artifactory, xray, distribution, evidence, apptrust, onemodel, graphql, workers, mission control, curation, advanced security, exposures, or any JFrog product name.

Backend & APIsscripts

cupynumeric-migration-readiness

Included

Pre-migration readiness assessor for porting NumPy to cuPyNumeric. Use BEFORE substantial porting work begins when the user asks whether code will scale on GPU, whether they should migrate to cuPyNumeric, which NumPy patterns transfer cleanly, what must be refactored before porting, or mentions pre-port assessment, scaling analysis, or refactor planning. Inspect the user's source code, look up NumPy usage, cross-reference the cuPyNumeric API support manifest, and distinguish distributed-scaling-friendly patterns from blockers such as unsupported APIs, scalar synchronization, host round-trips, Python/object-heavy control flow, shape/data-dependent branching, and in-place mutation hazards. Produce a verdict of READY, LIGHT REFACTOR, SIGNIFICANT REFACTOR, or NOT RECOMMENDED, with concrete refactor pointers.

Backend & APIsscripts

alibabacloud-data-agent-skill

Included

Invoke Alibaba Cloud Apsara Data Agent for Analytics via CLI to perform natural language-driven data analysis on enterprise databases. Data Agent for Analytics is an intelligent data analysis agent developed by Alibaba Cloud Database team for enterprise users. It automatically completes requirement analysis, data understanding, analysis insights, and report generation based on natural language descriptions. This tool supports: discovering data resources (instances/databases/tables) managed in DMS, initiating query or deep analysis sessions, real-time progress tracking, and retrieving analysis conclusions and generated reports. Use this Skill when users need to query databases, analyze data trends, generate data reports, ask questions in natural language, or mention "Data Agent", "data analysis", "database query", "SQL analysis", "data insights".

Backend & APIsscripts

token-optimizer

Included

Reduce OpenClaw token usage and API costs through smart model routing, heartbeat optimization, budget tracking, and native 2026.2.15 features (session pruning, bootstrap size limits, cache TTL alignment). Use when token costs are high, API rate limits are being hit, or hosting multiple agents at scale. The 4 executable scripts (context_optimizer, model_router, heartbeat_optimizer, token_tracker) are local-only — no network requests, no subprocess calls, no system modifications. Reference files (PROVIDERS.md, config-patches.json) document optional multi-provider strategies that require external API keys and network access if you choose to use them. See SECURITY.md for full breakdown.

Backend & APIsscripts

resend-cli

Included

Use this skill when the task is specifically about operating Resend from an AI agent, terminal session, or CI job via the official resend CLI: installing/authenticating the CLI, sending/listing/updating/cancelling emails, batch sends, domains and DNS, webhooks and local listeners, inbound receiving, contacts, topics, segments, broadcasts, templates, API keys, profiles, or debugging Resend CLI/API failures. Trigger on mentions of Resend CLI, `resend`, `resend doctor`, `resend emails send`, `resend domains`, `resend webhooks listen`, `resend emails receiving`, or agent-friendly terminal automation.

Backend & APIsscripts

alibabacloud-odps-maxframe-coding

Included

Use this skill for MaxFrame SDK development and documentation navigation on Alibaba Cloud MaxCompute (ODPS). Helps answer MaxFrame API, concept, official example, and supported pandas API questions; create data processing programs; read/write MaxCompute tables; debug jobs (remote or local); and build custom DPE runtime images. Trigger when users mention MaxFrame, MaxCompute with MaxFrame, ODPS table processing, DPE runtime, MaxFrame docs/examples, DataFrame/Tensor operations, or GPU runtime setup. Works for both English and Chinese queries about Alibaba Cloud data processing with MaxFrame.

Backend & APIsscripts