Sql Injection Challenge 5 Security Shepherd Free Jun 2026

OWASP Security Shepherd's SQL Injection Challenge 5 is a cleverly designed exercise that teaches a crucial lesson: security is only as strong as its weakest link. A developer might feel safe after escaping single quotes, but a vulnerability in the form of double quotes can undo all that protection.

This is the most effective defense, separating SQL code from user data.

\'or"1"="1"; --

SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = 'INPUT' AND password = 'INPUT';

But AND and SELECT are filtered.

SELECT coupon_code FROM coupons WHERE coupon_code = 'USER_INPUT'; Use code with caution.

The first step in any penetration test is reconnaissance. Start by observing the application's behavior:

According to common solutions for SQL Injection Escaping Challenge Security Shepherd , the vulnerability often lies in how the escape function handles existing backslashes.

The OWASP Security Shepherd is a deliberately vulnerable web application designed to teach application security. Its SQL Injection challenges progress from trivial to advanced. Challenge 5 is notable because it: Sql Injection Challenge 5 Security Shepherd

Let's assume the output reveals a table named (or similar).

To perform a UNION SELECT , your injected query must have the same number of columns as the original query. We need to find this number.

Payload Example: 1' UNION SELECT 1, table_name FROM information_schema.tables WHERE table_schema=database()--

Since the password check follows the username, you need to "comment out" the rest of the query so the system ignores the password requirement. admin' OR '1'='1' # For MS SQL: admin' OR '1'='1' -- 4. Refining the Payload OWASP Security Shepherd's SQL Injection Challenge 5 is

When you cannot see any change in the web application's visual behavior, you must use the database engine against itself. Time-based SQL injection forces the database to pause or sleep for a specific number of seconds if a certain condition is met.

The challenge often involves a web application that takes an input—such as an email address or a coupon code—and uses that input directly in a WHERE clause of a SQL query without proper sanitization. The goal is typically to bypass authentication, retrieve unauthorized data (such as a secret coupon code), or leak the database schema. Analyzing the Target and Vulnerability

You must find a way to apply a to a shopping cart where the original item prices are too high for a normal purchase. The vulnerability lies in the coupon code validation field, which is susceptible to a specific type of SQL injection. Key Logic & Vulnerability

An injection payload targeting a MySQL backend looks like this: \'or"1"="1"; -- SELECT * FROM users WHERE username