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Administrative credentials stored in cache memory

Need​

Secure storage of administrative credentials

Context​

  • Usage of Java 8 for developing applications with enhanced features and performance
  • Usage of javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet for handling HTTP requests in Java Servlets
  • Handling of IOException in Java Input/Output operations
  • Usage of javax.servlet.ServletException for handling servlet exceptions in Java web applications
  • Usage of javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest for handling HTTP requests in Java Servlets
  • Usage of HttpServletResponse for handling HTTP responses in Java Servlets
  • Usage of javax.servlet.http.HttpSession for managing user sessions in Java web applications

Description​

Non compliant code​

import javax.servlet.http.*;
import java.io.IOException;

public class AdminServlet extends HttpServlet {
    private String adminUser = "admin";
    private String adminPass = "password";

    protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
        String user = request.getParameter("user");
        String pass = request.getParameter("pass");

        if (adminUser.equals(user) && adminPass.equals(pass)) {
            HttpSession session = request.getSession();
            session.setAttribute("user", user);
            session.setAttribute("pass", pass);
        }
    }
}

In the above code, the servlet AdminServlet is used to handle the login for an administrator. The doPost method retrieves the username and password from the request parameters and compares them to the stored admin credentials. If the credentials match, the username and password are stored in the session attributes.

The vulnerability in this code lies in the fact that the administrative credentials are being stored in the session attributes, which is essentially storing them in cache memory. This could potentially allow an attacker to retrieve these credentials from the cache memory and gain administrative access to the system.

This is a significant security risk as it exposes sensitive data (the admin credentials) and could potentially allow unauthorized access to the system. This could lead to a range of attacks, including data theft, system disruption, and further system compromise.

The vulnerability could be exploited if an attacker can access the session data. This could potentially be done through session hijacking, cross-site scripting, or other similar attacks. This would allow the attacker to access the cached credentials and potentially gain unauthorized access to the system.

Steps​

  • Avoid storing sensitive information, such as administrative credentials, in code.
  • Use a secure and encrypted storage mechanism, such as a secure database or a key management system, to store administrative credentials.
  • Implement strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, to protect administrative access.
  • Avoid storing administrative credentials in cache memory or any other temporary storage.
  • Regularly review and update administrative credentials to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Implement secure coding practices, such as input validation and output encoding, to prevent injection attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Compliant code​

import javax.servlet.http.*;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.security.SecureRandom;
import java.math.BigInteger;

public class AdminServlet extends HttpServlet {
    private SecureRandom random = new SecureRandom();

    protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
        String user = request.getParameter("user");
        String pass = request.getParameter("pass");

        // Retrieve the admin credentials from a secure and encrypted storage
        String adminUser = getAdminUserFromSecureStorage();
        String adminPass = getAdminPassFromSecureStorage();

        if (adminUser.equals(user) && adminPass.equals(pass)) {
            HttpSession session = request.getSession();
            // Store a random token in the session instead of the credentials
            String token = new BigInteger(130, random).toString(32);
            session.setAttribute("token", token);
        }
    }

    private String getAdminUserFromSecureStorage() {
        // Implement the method to retrieve the admin user from a secure and encrypted storage
        return "";
    }

    private String getAdminPassFromSecureStorage() {
        // Implement the method to retrieve the admin password from a secure and encrypted storage
        return "";
    }
}

The original code stored administrative credentials directly in the code and in the session. This is a security vulnerability because it exposes the credentials to potential attackers who can gain unauthorized access to the system.

The fixed code retrieves the administrative credentials from a secure and encrypted storage, such as a secure database or a key management system. This prevents the credentials from being exposed in the code.

Instead of storing the credentials in the session, the fixed code stores a random token. This token is generated using a SecureRandom object, which provides a cryptographically strong random number generator. The token is then stored in the session. This prevents the credentials from being stored in cache memory or any other temporary storage.

The methods getAdminUserFromSecureStorage() and getAdminPassFromSecureStorage() need to be implemented to retrieve the admin user and password from the secure and encrypted storage.

This fix also requires implementing strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, and regularly reviewing and updating administrative credentials. Additionally, secure coding practices, such as input validation and output encoding, should be implemented to prevent injection attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

References​

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