SQL Injection Prevention in Go with "database/sql"

When developing web applications, it's crucial to mitigate SQL injection attacks. This article explores the protection provided by the "database/sql" library and discusses remaining injection vulnerabilities.

Protection by "database/sql"

Using the "database/sql" package with query parameters ('?') offers a significant level of protection against SQL injection. By constructing queries this way, you prevent the attacker from altering the query string by injecting malicious input.

Injection Vulnerabilities

While "database/sql" effectively mitigates most SQL injection attacks, some vulnerabilities remain:

• Prepared Statement Modification: Attackers can manipulate the SQL query after it has been prepared, before it's executed with parameters.
• Stored Procedure Injection: With stored procedures, attackers can execute arbitrary SQL statements by modifying the procedure's parameters.
• Union-Based Injections: In certain scenarios, attackers can inject additional SQL queries using UNION statements.
• Database Errors: In some cases, the structure of error messages can reveal underlying vulnerabilities.

Mitigation Techniques

To mitigate these vulnerabilities further, consider the following:

• Always validate user input to prevent malicious queries.
• Use stored procedures or ORM frameworks that handle SQL injection internally.
• Implement proper error handling to prevent information leakage.
• Regularly patch your database and application software to address any discovered vulnerabilities.

By adhering to these best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of SQL injection attacks in your Go applications.