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Interview question · Application & API Security

We use an ORM everywhere. Explain how SQL injection still happens, including second-order injection, and how you would review for it.

An ORM parameterises the queries it builds. It cannot protect the queries you build around it, or the data you trusted because it came from your own database.

hardNewPreparation tags: Amazon, Microsoft, SalesforceUpdated Nov 2026

An ORM parameterises the queries it builds. It cannot protect the queries you build around it, or the data you trusted because it came from your own database.

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The answer works through 6 follow-ups like an interviewer would

A Django app uses the ORM everywhere except a few reporting queries, and a nightly job builds SQL from stored report names.

  1. Do ORMs prevent SQL injection?
  2. How would you find escape hatches?
  3. What is second-order injection?
  4. How do you fix the nightly job?
  5. How do you prevent recurrence?
  6. How would you secure the app?

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