' ORDER BY 1-- - ' UNION SELECT NULL-- -
The LOAD_FILE() function allows you to read the entire contents of any file accessible by the MySQL process:
When a web application directly outputs the results of a query, a UNION-based SQL injection is the most efficient method. HackTricks provides baseline queries to start the extraction:
' AND SLEEP(5) --
# Standard Nmap service scan nmap -sV -p 3306,33060 Use code with caution. Banner Grabbing
For more complex scenarios, the HackTricks arsenal includes:
: Controls the IP address that listens for administrative TCP/IP connections. mysql hacktricks verified
If you or any other user has the FILE privilege set to 'Y', you can immediately leverage it.
The first step in any database assessment is identifying the service and verifying its configuration. Default Port Identification
Your (Anonymous, low-privilege user, or root/DBA?) ' ORDER BY 1-- - ' UNION SELECT
This essay reflects the state of MySQL security as documented in the HackTricks repository (circa 2025). Always verify techniques in authorized testing environments only.
CREATE FUNCTION sys_eval RETURNS STRING SONAME 'udf_payload.so'; Use code with caution. SELECT sys_eval('id'); Use code with caution. 6. Defensive Hardening Best Practices