# Reverse-Skill Database Requirements: What You Need to Assess Database Security

> Discover reverse-skill database requirements. Orchestrate PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSSQL, MongoDB, and Redis audits with this framework. Secure your instances efficiently.

- Repository: [ZhaoXu/reverse-skill](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill)
- Tags: deep-dive
- Published: 2026-08-04

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**The Reverse-Skill framework has no native database dependencies—it orchestrates external tools to audit existing PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSSQL, MongoDB, and Redis instances.**

Reverse-Skill is a modular **skill-router** designed for security testing workflows. The `database-security` skill provides a structured approach to evaluate database configurations, permissions, and vulnerabilities without requiring the framework itself to host or manage any database server.

## Understanding Reverse-Skill's Database Architecture

According to the source code in `zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill`, the framework operates as a **stateless orchestration layer**. The database assessment functionality lives entirely within the `skills/database-security/` directory and relies on your ability to connect to target databases in your own environment.

### Key Architectural Files

| File Path | Purpose |
|-----------|---------|
| [`skills/database-security/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/database-security/SKILL.md) | Defines the complete database security workflow and toolchain |
| [`skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md) | Registers database-security as routing entry R35 |
| [`skills/routing.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/routing.md) | Maps database instance security to high-level categories |
| `skills/scripts/master-route.ps1` | Executes the R35 routing logic |
| [`docs/ARCHITECTURE.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) | Explains skill composition patterns |

## Target Database Requirements

To execute a database security assessment with Reverse-Skill, you need the following infrastructure in place:

### Required: A Reachable Target Instance

The **minimum requirement** is a database server accessible over the network. This can be:

- **On-premise** deployments
- **Cloud RDS** instances (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- **Containerized** databases (Docker, Kubernetes)

The framework does not provision this infrastructure—you point it at existing systems.

### Required: Valid Access Credentials

Authentication takes one of two forms:

- **Authorized credentials** for legitimate penetration testing
- **Exploitable misconfigurations** that permit unauthenticated access (for research/lab environments only)

The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) file explicitly warns against destructive operations on production databases without express permission.

## Supported Database Engines

The Reverse-Skill database-security workflow covers these engines:

- **PostgreSQL** — configuration, role enumeration, privilege escalation paths
- **MySQL / MariaDB** — user management, dangerous variables, UDF exploitation
- **Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL)** — linked server abuse, xp_cmdshell evaluation
- **MongoDB** — NoSQL injection vectors, unauthenticated access checks
- **Redis** — command execution via module loading, keyspace enumeration

No schema version requirements exist—the framework guides **enumeration and validation** regardless of your target's specific build.

## Required Toolchain

Reverse-Skill does not embed database drivers. You must install these **external tools** in your execution environment:

| Tool | Function |
|------|----------|
| Native CLI clients (`psql`, `mysql`, `mongo`, `redis-cli`) | Direct database interaction |
| `sqlmap` | Automated SQL injection and database takeover |
| `nuclei` | Template-based scanning for known database exposures |
| Cloud provider consoles | RDS/Aurora/Azure SQL enumeration |

These tools perform the actual **heavy-lifting**; Reverse-Skill provides the workflow structure.

## Practical Execution Examples

### Step 1: Enumerate Target Databases

Connect using native clients to verify reachability and list structures:

```bash

# PostgreSQL: list all databases

psql -h <host> -U <user> -d <db> -c "\l"

# MySQL: enumerate tables

mysql -h <host> -u <user> -p <db> -e "SHOW TABLES;"

# MongoDB: check database statistics

mongo <host>/<db> --eval "db.stats()"

# Redis: inspect key count and memory

redis-cli -h <host> INFO keyspace

```

### Step 2: Test for Injection Vectors

Use `sqlmap` against web applications that interact with your target database:

```bash
sqlmap -u "https://example.com/search?q=test" \
  --dbms=mysql \
  --risk=3 \
  --level=5 \
  --batch

```

The `--dbms` flag should match your target: `mysql`, `postgresql`, `mssql`, or `oracle`.

### Step 3: Scan for Known Exposures

Run `nuclei` with database-specific templates:

```bash
nuclei -u https://target.example.com \
  -t templates/database/ \
  -tags mysql,postgres,redis

```

### Step 4: Validate Dangerous Configurations

Check for high-risk settings that the Reverse-Skill workflow flags:

```bash

# MySQL: verify dangerous file operations

mysql -h <host> -u <user> -p -e "SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'local_infile';"

# PostgreSQL: check superuser roles

psql -h <host> -U <user> -d <db> -c "\du"

# Redis: test for protected mode bypass

redis-cli -h <host> CONFIG GET protected-mode

```

## Safety Guardrails in the Workflow

The [`skills/database-security/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/database-security/SKILL.md) file structures assessment into four phases with explicit warnings:

1. **Network exposure** — verify reachability without triggering alerts
2. **Account/role analysis** — enumerate users and permissions
3. **Configuration review** — identify dangerous variables and settings
4. **Exploitation verification** — confirm findings *only* in authorized environments

The skill **deliberately avoids** destructive commands like `DROP`, `DELETE`, or `SHUTDOWN` in its documented examples.

## Summary

- Reverse-Skill requires **no database server** of its own—it is a workflow router
- You provide a **reachable target** (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSSQL, MongoDB, or Redis) and appropriate **credentials**
- All technical work is performed by **external tools** you install separately
- The framework organizes assessment into four phases: exposure, authentication, configuration, and verification
- Source documentation in [`skills/database-security/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/database-security/SKILL.md) governs safe execution

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does Reverse-Skill include a built-in database for testing?

No. As implemented in `zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill`, the framework contains no database server, embedded or otherwise. You must connect it to existing database instances in your environment. The `database-security` skill assumes you have already deployed targets for assessment.

### What authentication methods does the database-security skill support?

The skill accepts any authentication mechanism your target database and native CLI clients support. This includes password-based login, certificate-based authentication, Kerberos for MSSQL, and SCRAM for MongoDB. The workflow also covers unauthenticated access scenarios for vulnerability research.

### Can I use Reverse-Skill to audit cloud-managed databases like AWS RDS?

Yes. The skill explicitly lists cloud provider console tools alongside `sqlmap` and `nuclei`. For RDS, Aurora, or Azure SQL, you typically use the vendor CLI (`aws rds`, `az sql`) to enumerate instances, then connect with standard database clients for detailed assessment.

### Which file defines the complete database security workflow?

The authoritative source is [`skills/database-security/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/database-security/SKILL.md). This file specifies the four-phase assessment structure, supported engines, required tools, and safety warnings. The [`skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md) file then maps this skill to routing identifier R35 for execution via `skills/scripts/master-route.ps1`.