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Non-encrypted confidential information - LDAP

Need​

Protection of confidential information through encryption

Context​

  • Usage of Java for building cross-platform applications
  • Usage of javax.naming for accessing and manipulating naming and directory services in Java
  • Usage of javax.naming.directory for accessing and manipulating directory services in Java

Description​

Non compliant code​

import javax.naming.*;
import javax.naming.directory.*;

public class LDAPConnection {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Hashtable<String, String> env = new Hashtable<String, String>();
        env.put(Context.INITIAL_CONTEXT_FACTORY, "com.sun.jndi.ldap.LdapCtxFactory");
        env.put(Context.PROVIDER_URL, "ldap://localhost:389/dc=example,dc=com");
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_AUTHENTICATION, "simple");
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_PRINCIPAL, "cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com"); // Exposed in plain text
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_CREDENTIALS, "password"); // Exposed in plain text

        try {
            DirContext ctx = new InitialDirContext(env);
            System.out.println("Connection successful.");
            ctx.close();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

The above Java code illustrates a common security vulnerability where LDAP service credentials are exposed in plain text. The LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) service is used for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services over an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

In this code, we are creating a connection to an LDAP server using the javax.naming.directory.InitialDirContext class. The connection details including the URL, security principal (username), and credentials (password) are put into a Hashtable and passed to the InitialDirContext constructor.

The vulnerability lies in the following lines of code:

env.put(Context.SECURITY_PRINCIPAL, "cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com"); // Exposed in plain text
env.put(Context.SECURITY_CREDENTIALS, "password"); // Exposed in plain text

Here, the LDAP service credentials (username and password) are hard-coded in plain text. Anyone with access to this code can see these credentials. This is a major security risk as it can lead to unauthorized access to the LDAP service, data breaches, and other potential security threats.

To fix this vulnerability, sensitive information like usernames and passwords should never be hard-coded. Instead, they should be stored in secure, encrypted formats and loaded at runtime, or better yet, use a secure method of authentication that doesn't require passwords.

Steps​

  • Use a secure method to store and retrieve the LDAP service credentials.
  • Avoid hardcoding the credentials in the code.
  • Consider using environment variables or a secure configuration file to store the credentials.
  • Encrypt the credentials to protect them from being exposed in plain text.
  • Implement secure authentication mechanisms, such as SSL/TLS, to encrypt the communication with the LDAP server.
  • Regularly review and update the LDAP service credentials to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

Compliant code​

import javax.naming.*;
import javax.naming.directory.*;
import java.util.Hashtable;

public class LDAPConnection {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Hashtable<String, String> env = new Hashtable<String, String>();
        env.put(Context.INITIAL_CONTEXT_FACTORY, "com.sun.jndi.ldap.LdapCtxFactory");
        env.put(Context.PROVIDER_URL, "ldap://localhost:389/dc=example,dc=com");
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_AUTHENTICATION, "simple");
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_PRINCIPAL, System.getenv("LDAP_PRINCIPAL")); // Retrieve from environment variable
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_CREDENTIALS, System.getenv("LDAP_CREDENTIALS")); // Retrieve from environment variable

        try {
            DirContext ctx = new InitialDirContext(env);
            System.out.println("Connection successful.");
            ctx.close();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

The updated code now retrieves the LDAP service credentials from environment variables instead of having them hardcoded in the code. This is a more secure practice as it prevents the credentials from being exposed in plain text in the code.

The System.getenv() method is used to retrieve the values of the LDAP_PRINCIPAL and LDAP_CREDENTIALS environment variables, which should be set to the respective LDAP service credentials.

This method of storing and retrieving credentials is more secure as it allows the credentials to be stored outside of the code, reducing the risk of them being exposed. It also allows for easier management of the credentials, as they can be changed without needing to update and redeploy the code.

In addition to this, it is recommended to implement secure authentication mechanisms, such as SSL/TLS, to encrypt the communication with the LDAP server, and to regularly review and update the LDAP service credentials to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

References​

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