Once an attacker knows there are 8 columns, they can replace the NULL values with commands to extract sensitive data, such as usernames, passwords, or database versions. SQL injection UNION attacks | Web Security Academy
: This command attempts to append a new set of results to the original query's output. Once an attacker knows there are 8 columns,
The primary goal of this specific syntax is to returned by the original, legitimate database query. : When the number of NULL s matches
: When the number of NULL s matches exactly (in your case, 8 columns), the page will load normally or show an extra blank row, confirming the database structure. Why This Matters : This represents the original input (like a
: This is a SQL comment marker that tells the database to ignore the rest of the original query, preventing errors from leftover code. How it Works
: An attacker starts with one NULL and keeps adding more (e.g., NULL, NULL , then NULL, NULL, NULL ).
: This represents the original input (like a product category or search term) that the application expects.