sqlmapproject/sqlmap · error · SqlmapMissingDependence

sqlmap requires third-party module 'pywin32' in order to use

Error message

sqlmap requires third-party module 'pywin32' in order to use Metasploit functionalities on Windows. You can download it from 'https://github.com/mhammond/pywin32'

What it means

Error "sqlmap requires third-party module 'pywin32' in order to use Metasploit functionalities on Windows. You can download it from 'https://github.com/mhammond/pywin32'" thrown in sqlmapproject/sqlmap.

Source

Thrown at lib/core/option.py:658

def _setMetasploit():
    if not conf.osPwn and not conf.osSmb and not conf.osBof:
        return

    debugMsg = "setting the takeover out-of-band functionality"
    logger.debug(debugMsg)

    msfEnvPathExists = False

    if IS_WIN:
        try:
            __import__("win32file")
        except ImportError:
            errMsg = "sqlmap requires third-party module 'pywin32' "
            errMsg += "in order to use Metasploit functionalities on "
            errMsg += "Windows. You can download it from "
            errMsg += "'https://github.com/mhammond/pywin32'"
            raise SqlmapMissingDependence(errMsg)

        if not conf.msfPath:
            for candidate in os.environ.get("PATH", "").split(';'):
                if all(_ in candidate for _ in ("metasploit", "bin")):
                    conf.msfPath = os.path.dirname(candidate.rstrip('\\'))
                    break

    if conf.osSmb:
        isAdmin = runningAsAdmin()

        if not isAdmin:
            errMsg = "you need to run sqlmap as an administrator "
            errMsg += "if you want to perform a SMB relay attack because "
            errMsg += "it will need to listen on a user-specified SMB "
            errMsg += "TCP port for incoming connection attempts"
            raise SqlmapMissingPrivileges(errMsg)

    if conf.msfPath:

View on GitHub (pinned to 0a35b20e39)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at lib/core/option.py:658 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/cf6ddcbf17069017. Report an issue: GitHub.