Professional Answer:

SQL injection is a type of cybersecurity vulnerability that occurs when an attacker can manipulate or inject malicious SQL code into an application’s database query. This typically happens when user inputs are not properly validated or sanitized before being included in SQL statements.

The goal of an SQL injection attack is to manipulate the original SQL query and execute unauthorized actions on the database. This can include viewing, modifying, or deleting data, as well as performing administrative tasks. Attackers often exploit SQL injection vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or to compromise the integrity of a database-driven application.

Key Tips:

• Define SQL injection as a cybersecurity vulnerability.
• Explain how attackers manipulate SQL code through user inputs.
• Emphasize the importance of input validation, parameterized queries, and encoding to prevent SQL injection.