Original Post: Preventing SQL injection: a Django author's perspective
This guest post, co-authored by Jacob Kaplan-Moss (Django co-creator) and Grayson Hardaway, explains SQL Injection (SQLi) and its dangers, while offering prevention strategies, particularly for Django users.
What is SQL Injection?
SQLi is a serious vulnerability where user input is improperly included in SQL queries, potentially leading to data breaches or server overloads. For instance, constructing SQL queries directly with user input can lead to disastrous results like exposing all data or deleting records.
Preventing SQL Injection:
- Never trust user-submitted data.
- Always use parameterized statements to separate SQL query structure from user inputs, thus preventing unsafe injections.
In Django:
- Django’s ORM uses parameterized statements inherently, thus safeguarding against SQLi.
- When raw SQL is needed, use Django’s raw query APIs with prepared statements.
- Avoid the deprecated
Queryset.extra()which is unsafe.
The post also emphasizes using code analysis tools like Bento to automatically catch SQLi patterns. It suggests running Bento as a pre-commit hook or in CI environments to ensure continual security.
Advanced Precautions:
- Audit third-party apps for custom ORM additions like expressions or aggregates.
- Be extremely cautious and well-informed if writing your own custom ORM features.
Conclusion:
While Django is robust against SQLi by default, it’s crucial to consistently audit and secure your codebase against potential injection vulnerabilities, using tools and best practices outlined.
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