Understanding ORM Injection

ORM injection occurs when user inputs are directly embedded into ORM query methods without proper sanitization or validation. This can lead to significant security vulnerabilities, allowing attackers to manipulate database queries and gain unauthorized access to data.

Key Points

• Indicators of ORM Injection:

  • Use of dynamic queries that concatenate user inputs
  • Raw query execution methods
  • Insufficient use of parameterized queries

• Techniques for Testing ORM Injection:

  • Manual code review
  • Automated scanning
  • Input validation testing
  • Error-based testing

Techniques for Testing ORM Injection

Manual Code Review

• Example: Identifying the use of $queryRawUnsafe() in Prisma ORM.

Automated Scanning

• Utilize tools to scan for potential vulnerabilities automatically.

Input Validation Testing

• Inject payloads into the application to test for vulnerabilities.

Error-Based Testing

• Enter deliberately incorrect or malformed data to trigger errors and analyze the responses.

Frameworks and ORM Injection Testing

Framework	ORM Library	Common Vulnerable Methods
Laravel	Eloquent ORM	whereRaw(), DB::raw()
Ruby on Rails	Active Record	where("name = '#{input}'")
Django	Django ORM	extra(), raw()
Spring	Hibernate	createQuery() with concatenation
Node.js	Sequelize	sequelize.query()

Identifying the Framework

• Verifying Cookies: Look for naming conventions or formats, e.g., laravel_session.
• Reviewing Source Code: Check comments, meta tags, or embedded scripts in HTML source code.
• Analyzing HTTP Headers: Examine headers for framework-specific information.
• URL Structure: Observe routing patterns.
• Login and Error Pages: Some frameworks have distinctive error pages or login form structures.

Example

Input 1' in a form using Laravel and observe the error:

SQLSTATE[42000]: Syntax error or access violation: 1064 You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MariaDB server version for the right syntax to use near ''1''' at line 1 (SQL: select * from `admins` where email = '1'')

Code where the exception is thrown:

// If an exception occurs when attempting to run a query, we'll format the error
// message to include the bindings with SQL, which will make this exception a
// lot more helpful to the developer instead of just the database's errors.
catch (Exception $e) {
    throw new QueryException(
        $query, $this->prepareBindings($bindings), $e
    );
}

Mitigation

• Parameterized Queries: Ensure user inputs are properly sanitized.
• Up-to-Date ORM Libraries: Use secure versions to avoid introducing exploitable vulnerabilities.

Best Practices

• Input Validation: Validate all user inputs.
• Parameterized Queries: Use parameterized queries to prevent injection.
• ORM Usage: Follow best practices for ORM usage.
• Escaping and Sanitization: Properly escape and sanitize inputs.
• Allowlist Input: Use allowlists to restrict input values.

Learn More

For more detailed information on ORM injection and best practices in cybersecurity, consider exploring resources such as OWASP's guidelines and framework-specific documentation.