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Regulation infringement

Need​

Compliance with regulatory requirements

Context​

  • Usage of Java 1.8 for developing applications in the Java programming language
  • Usage of javax.servlet-api for Java Servlet development

Description​

Non compliant code​

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;

public class RegulationViolationServlet extends HttpServlet {

    protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
        String sensitiveData = request.getParameter("sensitiveData");
        System.out.println(sensitiveData);
    }
}

The above code is a simple example of a Servlet that handles GET requests. The problem lies in the doGet method where it retrieves a parameter from the request, named "sensitiveData", and prints it to the console.

This is a violation of privacy regulations such as GDPR, CCPA etc., as sensitive data of users (like personal identification information) is being logged without explicit consent from the user and without any form of protection or encryption.

Furthermore, the system might not have controls in place to limit who has access to these logs, which could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information. This is a clear violation of the principle of least privilege.

Additionally, the data is not checked or sanitized before it's used, which opens up potential for other vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) or SQL Injection, depending on what the data is used for.

To comply with regulations, the system should not log sensitive data, should protect any logged data, should obtain user consent before using their data, and should implement proper data sanitization.

Steps​

  • Identify the specific regulations that the system is subject to.
  • Review the regulations to understand the requirements and restrictions.
  • Ensure that the system's functionality and data handling comply with the regulations.
  • Implement appropriate security measures to protect sensitive data.
  • Validate and sanitize user input to prevent injection attacks.
  • Implement access controls to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive data.
  • Regularly review and update the system to ensure ongoing compliance with regulations.
  • Conduct periodic security audits and assessments to identify any potential vulnerabilities or violations.
  • Train developers and system administrators on the regulations and best practices for compliance.
  • Establish a process for reporting and addressing any potential regulation infringements.

Compliant code​

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
import java.io.IOException;
import javax.servlet.ServletException;
import org.owasp.esapi.ESAPI;
import org.owasp.esapi.Validator;

public class RegulationCompliantServlet extends HttpServlet {

    protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
        Validator validator = ESAPI.validator();
        String sensitiveData = request.getParameter("sensitiveData");

        if (validator.isValidInput("HTTP Parameter", sensitiveData, "SafeString", 200, false)) {
            System.out.println(sensitiveData);
        } else {
            response.sendError(HttpServletResponse.SC_BAD_REQUEST, "Invalid input");
        }
    }
}

The updated code now uses the OWASP Enterprise Security API (ESAPI) to validate and sanitize the user input. This helps to prevent injection attacks and ensures that the input complies with the defined security policy.

The isValidInput method is used to validate the user input. It takes four parameters: the context (a description of the source of the input), the input itself, the type of input expected, and the maximum length allowed for the input. If the input is not valid, the method will return false, and an error response will be sent to the client.

This code also assumes that the system has implemented appropriate security measures to protect sensitive data, such as encryption and access controls. It is also assumed that the system is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure ongoing compliance with regulations, and that there is a process in place for reporting and addressing any potential regulation infringements.

This code does not directly address all the steps mentioned in the vulnerability fix, such as conducting periodic security audits and assessments, or training developers and system administrators on the regulations and best practices for compliance. These are important steps that should be taken as part of the system's overall security strategy.

References​

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