Skip to main content

Insecure object reference - Personal information

Need​

Secure access control and authorization mechanisms

Context​

  • Usage of PHP 7.0 for server-side scripting and web development
  • Usage of Request for making HTTP requests
  • Usage of the User dependency for managing user data and authentication

Description​

Non compliant code​

public function updateProfile(Request $request, $id)
{
    $user = User::find($id);
    $user->name = $request->input('name');
    $user->email = $request->input('email');
    $user->save();
    return response()->json(['message' => 'Profile updated successfully.']);
}

In the above code, the updateProfile function is used to update a user's profile. The function uses the $id parameter to find the user in the database and then updates the user's name and email based on the data received from the request.

This function is vulnerable to Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) attack because it does not verify if the user making the request is the same user whose data is being modified. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a request with a different user's id in the $id parameter and modify that user's data.

An attacker can bypass the authentication mechanism and modify other users' data by simply changing the $id parameter in the request. This vulnerability is a serious security issue because it can lead to unauthorized access and modification of user data.

Steps​

  • Check the authenticated user's ID against the ID provided in the request. If they don't match, deny the request.
  • Implement proper access controls to ensure that only authorized users can update their own profiles.
  • Use server-side session management to track user authentication and permissions.
  • Avoid exposing direct object references to users whenever possible. Instead, use indirect references that are mapped to the actual objects on the server side.
  • Consider using a framework or library that provides built-in protection against insecure direct object references.

Compliant code​

public function updateProfile(Request $request)
{
    $user = Auth::user();
    if($user->id != $request->input('id')) {
        return response()->json(['error' => 'Unauthorized action.'], 403);
    }
    $user->name = $request->input('name');
    $user->email = $request->input('email');
    $user->save();
    return response()->json(['message' => 'Profile updated successfully.']);
}

The updated code now checks if the authenticated user's ID matches the ID provided in the request. This is done by calling Auth::user() which retrieves the currently authenticated user. If the IDs do not match, the function immediately returns a 403 error response indicating an unauthorized action.

This change ensures that users can only update their own profiles, effectively preventing the insecure direct object reference vulnerability. The server-side session management provided by Laravel's Auth facade is used to track user authentication and permissions.

In addition, the direct object reference (the user ID) is no longer exposed to the user. Instead, the Auth::user() method is used to indirectly reference the authenticated user. This is a safer approach as it does not rely on user input to determine which user's profile to update.

This solution also leverages Laravel's built-in protection against insecure direct object references, providing an additional layer of security.

References​

Last updated on