sqlmapproject/sqlmap · error · SqlmapDataException

can't use column existence check because of detected invalid

Error message

can't use column existence check because of detected invalid results (most likely caused by inability of the used injection to distinguish erroneous results)

What it means

Error "can't use column existence check because of detected invalid results (most likely caused by inability of the used injection to distinguish erroneous results)" thrown in sqlmapproject/sqlmap.

Source

Thrown at lib/utils/brute.py:213

        kb.choices.columnExists = readInput(message, default='N', boolean=True)

        if not kb.choices.columnExists:
            return None

    if not conf.tbl:
        errMsg = "missing table parameter"
        raise SqlmapMissingMandatoryOptionException(errMsg)

    if conf.db and Backend.getIdentifiedDbms() in UPPER_CASE_DBMSES:
        conf.db = conf.db.upper()

    result = inject.checkBooleanExpression(safeStringFormat(BRUTE_COLUMN_EXISTS_TEMPLATE, (randomStr(), randomStr())))

    if result:
        errMsg = "can't use column existence check because of detected invalid results "
        errMsg += "(most likely caused by inability of the used injection "
        errMsg += "to distinguish erroneous results)"
        raise SqlmapDataException(errMsg)

    message = "which common columns (wordlist) file do you want to use?\n"
    message += "[1] default '%s' (press Enter)\n" % columnFile
    message += "[2] custom"
    choice = readInput(message, default='1')

    if choice == '2':
        message = "what's the custom common columns file location?\n"
        columnFile = readInput(message) or columnFile

    infoMsg = "checking column existence using items from '%s'" % columnFile
    logger.info(infoMsg)

    columns = getFileItems(columnFile, unique=True)
    columns.extend(_addPageTextWords())
    columns = filterListValue(columns, regex)

    for table in conf.tbl.split(','):

View on GitHub (pinned to 0a35b20e39)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at lib/utils/brute.py:213 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of sqlmapproject/sqlmap@0a35b20e39 (2026-08-26). Data as JSON: /api/errors/4520d8b3e59c564d. Report an issue: GitHub.