Sqlmap

sqlmap is a software utility for automated discovering of SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications.^[2][3]

Sqlmap
Original author	Daniele Bellucci[1]
Repository	github.com/sqlmapproject/sqlmap
License	GNU General Public License, version 2
Website	sqlmap.org

Research and academic recognition

SQLMap has been extensively studied in academic literature as a benchmark for SQL injection detection capabilities. A 2024 study in the International Journal of Innovative Science and Advanced Engineering compared SQLMap against other penetration testing tools and found it demonstrated superior performance in identifying boolean-based and time-based blind SQL injection vulnerabilities across multiple web application frameworks.^[4]

Research published in IEEE conferences has highlighted SQLMap's effectiveness in automated vulnerability detection, noting its comprehensive approach to fingerprinting database management systems and exploiting identified vulnerabilities.^[5] Another IEEE study categorized SQLMap as a foundational tool in the web application security assessment toolkit, particularly for its ability to automate the process of database takeover through out-of-band connections.^[6]

Usage

The tool was used in the 2015 data breach of TalkTalk.^[7] In 2016, the Illinois Board of Election was breached using the tool, combined with Acunetix and DirBuster.^[8]