GambleForce Strikes with SQL Injections: A Persistent Threat Unveils the Power of Basic Techniques

In their latest research report, "Ace in the Hole: Exposing GambleForce, an SQL Injection Gang," cybersecurity firm Group-IB has brought to light a new threat that has been causing havoc in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region since September 2023. GambleForce, a hacker group, has been executing a series of SQL injection attacks targeting various companies, revealing the enduring power of basic techniques.

The Power of Basic Techniques

The concept of SQL injection first emerged in the late 1990s when websites and applications started relying heavily on databases to store and manage user data. 

The fundamental flaw in SQL injection lies in the improper handling of user input by web applications. When developers failed to adequately validate and sanitize user inputs, malicious actors found a gateway to manipulate SQL queries directly. By injecting malicious SQL code into input fields, attackers could bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to sensitive databases.

Over the years, SQL injection attacks have proven to be a persistent and versatile weapon in the arsenal of cybercriminals. Their simplicity, coupled with the prevalence of insecure coding practices and insufficient input validation, has allowed SQL injection to remain a prevalent threat despite advancements in cybersecurity.

The GambleForce attacks serve as another stark reminder of how powerful basic techniques can be and that they continue to be exploited. 

Why are existing Appsec tools still failing to protect the same old Attack vectors?

The persisting challenge arises from the familiar analogy of finding a needle in a haystack. Current Appsec tools inundate developers and security teams with an overwhelming number of vulnerabilities. Amidst this flood of findings, prioritizing becomes a daunting task for these teams. 

One of the challenges is to distinguish between identifying the SQL injection (SQLi) pattern, a potential vulnerability which most tools do and can generate tons of findings, to identifying exploitable SQLi instances. This requires reachability analysis and narrows them down to only a few. 

The inefficiency in prioritization may lead to critical security issues, such as the SQL injections observed in the GambleForce attacks, being neglected or not receiving the necessary attention from development teams.

Backslash: Prioritizing Real Exploitable Threats

The purpose of Backslash is not only to recognize known vulnerabilities but also to ensure that real exploitable threats take precedence. By using Backslash, organizations can prioritize critical vulnerabilities, like the SQL injection attacks employed by GambleForce, ensuring that these are handled with urgency.

To delve deeper into how Backslash can empower your cybersecurity efforts, we invite you request a demo.