Lab - Attacking a mySQL Database (Instructor Version)
Part 1: Open Wireshark and load the PCAP file.
The Wireshark application can be opened using a variety of methods on a Linux workstation.
a. Start the CyberOps Workstation VM.
b. Click Applications > CyberOPS > Wireshark on the desktop and browse to the Wireshark application.
c. In the Wireshark application, click Open in the middle of the application under Files.
d. Browse through the /home/analyst/ directory and search for lab.support.files. In the lab.support.files
directory and open the SQL_Lab.pcap file.
e. The PCAP file opens within Wireshark and displays the captured network traffic. This capture file extends
over an 8-minute (441 second) period, the duration of this SQL injection attack.
Question:
What are the two IP addresses involved in this SQL injection attack based on the information displayed?
Type your answers here.
10.0.2.4 and 10.0.2.15
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Lab - Attacking a mySQL Database
Part 2: View the SQL Injection Attack.
In this step, you will be viewing the beginning of an attack.
a. Within the Wireshark capture, right-click line 13 and select Follow > HTTP Stream. Line 13 was chosen
because it is a GET HTTP request. This will be very helpful in following the data stream as the application
layers sees it and leads up to the query testing for the SQL injection.
The source traffic is shown in red. The source has sent a GET request to host 10.0.2.15. In blue, the
destination device is responding back to the source.
b. In the Find field, enter 1=1. Click Find Next.
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Lab - Attacking a mySQL Database
c. The attacker has entered a query (1=1) into a UserID search box on the target 10.0.2.15 to see if the
application is vulnerable to SQL injection. Instead of the application responding with a login failure
message, it responded with a record from a database. The attacker has verified they can input an SQL
command and the database will respond. The search string 1=1 creates an SQL statement that will be
always true. In the example, it does not matter what is entered into the field, it will always be true.
2
d. Close the Follow HTTP Stream window.
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Lab - Attacking a mySQL Database
e. Click Clear display filter to display the entire Wireshark conversation.
Part 3: The SQL Injection Attack continues...
In this step, you will be viewing the continuation of an attack.
a. Within the Wireshark capture, right-click line 19, and click Follow > HTTP Stream.
b. In the Find field, enter 1=1. Click Find Next.
c. The attacker has entered a query (1’ or 1=1 union select database(), user()#) into a UserID search box on
the target 10.0.2.15. Instead of the application responding with a login failure message, it responded with
the following information:
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Lab - Attacking a mySQL Database
The database name is dvwa and the database user is root@localhost. There are also multiple user
accounts being displayed.
d. Close the Follow HTTP Stream window.
e. Click Clear display filter to display the entire Wireshark conversation.
Part 4: The SQL Injection Attack provides system information.
The attacker continues and starts targeting more specific information.
a. Within the Wireshark capture, right-click line 22 and select Follow > HTTP Stream. In red, the source
traffic is shown and is sending the GET request to host 10.0.2.15. In blue, the destination device is
responding back to the source.
b. In the Find field, enter 1=1. Click Find Next.
c. The attacker has entered a query (1’ or 1=1 union select null, version ()#) into a UserID search box on the
target 10.0.2.15 to locate the version identifier. Notice how the version identifier is at the end of the output
right before the </pre>.</div> closing HTML code.
Question:
What is the version?
Type your answers here.
MySQL 5.7.12-0
d. Close the Follow HTTP Stream window.
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Lab - Attacking a mySQL Database
e. Click Clear display filter to display the entire Wireshark conversation.
Part 5: The SQL Injection Attack and Table Information.
The attacker knows that there is a large number of SQL tables that are full of information. The attacker
attempts to find them.
a. Within the Wireshark capture, right-click on line 25 and select Follow > HTTP Stream. The source is
shown in red. It has sent a GET request to host 10.0.2.15. In blue, the destination device is responding
back to the source.
b. In the Find field, enter users. Click Find Next.
c. The attacker has entered a query (1’or 1=1 union select null, table_name from
information_schema.tables#) into a UserID search box on the target 10.0.2.15 to view all the tables in the
database. This provides a huge output of many tables, as the attacker specified “null” without any further
specifications.
Question:
What would the modified command of (1' OR 1=1 UNION SELECT null, column_name FROM
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.columns WHERE table_name='users') do for the attacker?
Type your answers here.
The database would respond with a much shorter output filtered by the occurrence of the word
“users”.
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Lab - Attacking a mySQL Database
d. Close the Follow HTTP Stream window.
e. Click Clear display filter to display the entire Wireshark conversation.
Part 6: The SQL Injection Attack Concludes.
The attack ends with the best prize of all; password hashes.
a. Within the Wireshark capture, right-click line 28 and select Follow > HTTP Stream. The source is shown
in red. It has sent a GET request to host 10.0.2.15. In blue, the destination device is responding back to
the source.
b. Click Find and type in 1=1. Search for this entry. When the text is located, click Cancel in the Find text
search box.
The attacker has entered a query (1’or 1=1 union select user, password from users#) into a UserID
search box on the target 10.0.2.15 to pull usernames and password hashes!
Question:
Which user has the password hash of 8d3533d75ae2c3966d7e0d4fcc69216b?
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Lab - Attacking a mySQL Database
Type your answers here.
1337
c. Using a website such as https://crackstation.net/, copy the password hash into the password hash cracker
and get cracking.
Question:
What is the plain-text password?
Type your answers here.
charley
d. Close the Follow HTTP Stream window. Close any open windows.
Reflection Questions
1. What is the risk of having platforms use the SQL langauge?
- Web sites are commonly database driven and use the SQL language. The severity of a SQL injection
attack is up to the attacker
2. Browse the internet and perform a search on “prevent SQL injection attacks”. What are 2 methods or
steps that can be taken to prevent SQL injection attacks?
- Answers will vary, but should include: filter user input, deploy a web application firewall, disable
unnecessary database features/capabilities, monitor SQL statements, use parameters with stored
procedures, and use parameters with dynamic SQL.
Ty--
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