WAF Bypass Techniques: How to Exploit SQL Injection Vulnerabilities Like a Pro

Introduction

Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) are crucial defense mechanisms used by organizations to protect their web applications from attacks. WAFs filter and monitor HTTP traffic to and from web applications, shielding them from threats such as SQL Injection (SQLi), Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and other OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities. However, no system is foolproof, and attackers with the right knowledge and techniques can bypass WAFs to exploit vulnerabilities like SQL Injection.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into advanced WAF bypass techniques, focusing on exploiting SQL Injection vulnerabilities. We’ll explore how WAFs work, common bypass strategies, and practical examples of how attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to breach systems.

How Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) Work

Before we dive into bypass techniques, it’s important to understand the basic working principle of WAFs. A WAF acts as a filter between the user and the web application, inspecting inbound and outbound traffic for malicious patterns.

WAFs use several detection techniques to prevent attacks:

1. Signature-based Detection: WAFs compare incoming traffic to a set…