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Complete SQL Injection Testing Checklist (2026)

SQL injection (SQLi) is still one of the highest-impact web risks in 2026, not because teams do not know it exists, but because modern apps are complex.

• API-first architectures (REST/GraphQL)
• Authentication-heavy workflows
• Layered defenses (WAF/CDN/bot controls)
• Multi-service data access paths (microservices, queues, serverless)

That complexity creates blind spots. A reliable SQLi assessment is less about trying lots of payloads and more about coverage, verification, and evidence.

Important: Use this checklist only for systems you explicitly own or have written permission to test.

What this checklist is (and is not)

This is a professional, defensive checklist for authorized testing. It focuses on:

• Mapping the real attack surface
• Testing the right places including authenticated flows
• Separating blocked from safe outcomes
• Verifying findings to reduce false positives
• Producing remediation-ready outputs

It does not include weaponized payloads or exploitation instructions.

Phase 0 - Scope and safety

• Written authorization exists (scope, dates, targets, allowed methods).
• Identify data sensitivity (PII, credentials, payment, health, internal secrets).
• Define test boundaries (production vs staging, rate limits, time windows).
• Confirm no destructive actions unless explicitly approved.
• Establish incident contact path.

Phase 1 - Inventory the real attack surface

1.1 App topology and data flows

• List all entry points: web app, API, mobile API, admin portal, partner endpoints.
• Identify data access paths across services and databases.
• Note middleware layers: CDN, WAF, reverse proxy, API gateway.
• Identify workers and queues that write to DB.

1.2 Authentication and roles

• Enumerate roles (guest, user, staff, admin, support, vendor).
• Confirm session/token model (cookies, JWT, OAuth, API keys).
• Collect test accounts per role.

1.3 Endpoint and parameter map

• URL and method
• Content type
• Auth requirement
• Parameter locations
• Type expectations

High-value endpoints to always include:

• Search, filters, sorting, pagination
• Reports, exports, imports
• Admin settings panels
• Checkout or billing flows
• Advanced query features

Phase 2 - Baseline behavior and defensive controls

2.1 Establish baseline responses

• Record normal request and response per endpoint.
• Capture status, response shape, timing range, and error behavior.
• Note caching behavior and headers.

2.2 Detect blocked vs safe outcomes

• Identify challenge, redirect, 403/429/503, and soft-block patterns.
• Track rate limits by IP, session, and route.
• Confirm degraded or empty response behavior.

Rule: clean scan output is meaningless unless you can prove you tested the application, not just the WAF.

Phase 3 - SQLi risk hotspots

3.1 High-risk query construction patterns

• Dynamic ORDER BY and column selection
• Flexible combined filtering
• Search everywhere features
• Report builders with custom grouping/sorting
• Raw SQL used for performance quick fixes

3.2 Business logic areas with hidden parameters

• ID-driven admin actions
• Bulk operations
• Webhook receivers
• Import flows mapping into DB

3.3 API-first attack surface

• REST endpoints with nested JSON filters
• GraphQL queries and variables
• Internal dashboard APIs

Phase 4 - Testing methodology (verification-first)

Outcomes per endpoint should be one of:

• Not vulnerable (with evidence)
• Potentially vulnerable (needs follow-up)
• Blocked/challenged/rate-limited
• Inconclusive

4.1 Test planning

• Confirm parameter intent and constraints.
• Choose safe strategy per endpoint type.
• Keep request patterns realistic.

4.2 Evidence and verification requirements

• Repeatability under controlled retries
• Control comparison with benign variants
• Multi-signal validation (shape, code, content, timing)
• Confirm behavior comes from app, not WAF/cache

4.3 False-positive traps

• CDN/full-page cache artifacts
• Templated error pages
• Timeout/autoscaling timing noise
• Bot-protection content variance

4.4 Coverage across roles and states

• Unauthenticated and authenticated routes
• Multiple roles
• Real workflows
• Different data states and edge cases

Phase 5 - Impact analysis

• Data exposure scope and affected records
• Privilege context of affected endpoint
• Write/modification risk
• Lateral movement potential via exposed secrets
• Compliance impact

Phase 6 - Report like a professional

For each finding include:

• Summary and risk rationale
• Affected endpoints and parameters
• Preconditions and required role/config
• Safe evidence with timestamps
• Reproduction steps (high-level and safe)
• Severity and business impact
• Concrete remediation

Phase 7 - Remediation checklist

7.1 Code-level fixes

• Parameterized queries everywhere
• No SQL string concatenation from user input
• Allowlists for enums, sorting keys, column identifiers
• Centralized safe query-building patterns

7.2 App-level hardening

• Strict type and bounds validation
• Safe error handling
• Least-privilege DB accounts
• Monitoring suspicious query and endpoint usage

7.3 WAF positioning

• WAF for defense-in-depth, not replacement for secure code
• Ensure WAF parsing matches app parsing
• Expose blocked/challenged telemetry

Phase 8 - Continuous SQLi testing

• Add regression tests for sensitive endpoints
• Re-test after framework upgrades and major releases
• Monitor for new endpoints and parameters
• Track verdict trends over time

Quick worksheet

Target

• Domain/App:
• Environment:
• WAF/CDN:

Auth and roles

• Roles tested:
• Login methods:

High-value endpoints covered

• Search/filters:
• Sorting/pagination:
• Reports/exports:
• Admin settings:
• APIs (REST/GraphQL):

Outcomes

• Confirmed vulnerabilities:
• Blocked/challenged endpoints:
• Inconclusive endpoints:

Top remediation actions

Closing thought

In 2026, reliable SQL injection testing is less about finding one payload and more about reaching the real attack surface, interpreting defenses correctly, and verifying outcomes with repeatable evidence.

Use this checklist to make SQLi assessments consistent, defensible, and actionable.