sqlmapproject/sqlmap · error · SqlmapGenericException

error occurred while opening log file

Error message

error occurred while opening log file ('%s')

What it means

Opening the run's log file under the output directory raised an IOError, typically because of permissions, a read-only/full filesystem, or an invalid output path; logging cannot be initialized, so the run is aborted. Note the nearby flush() deliberately swallows IOErrors - only the initial open is fatal.

Solutions

  1. Verify the output directory exists and is writable by the current user
  2. Free disk space or choose another location via --output
  3. Disable file logging with --output-dir controls / logging options if not needed
Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at lib/core/dump.py:134 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/6223257f162a3bc0. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at lib/core/dump.py:134

    def flush(self):
        if self._outputFP:
            try:
                self._outputFP.flush()
            except IOError:
                pass

    def setOutputFile(self):
        if conf.noLogging:
            self._outputFP = None
            return

        self._outputFile = os.path.join(conf.outputPath, "log")
        try:
            self._outputFP = openFile(self._outputFile, 'a' if not conf.flushSession else 'w')
        except IOError as ex:
            errMsg = "error occurred while opening log file ('%s')" % getSafeExString(ex)
            raise SqlmapGenericException(errMsg)

    def singleString(self, data, content_type=None):
        self._reportData(data, content_type)
        self._write(data, content_type=content_type)

    def string(self, header, data, content_type=None, sort=True):
        self._reportData(data, content_type)

        if conf.api:
            self._write(data, content_type=content_type)

        if isListLike(data) and len(data) == 1:
            data = unArrayizeValue(data)

        if isListLike(data):
            self.lister(header, data, content_type, sort)
        elif data is not None:
            _ = getUnicode(data)

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