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Insecure authentication method - Basic

Need​

Implementation of secure authentication methods

Context​

  • Usage of Ruby for building dynamic and object-oriented applications
  • Usage of ActionController::Base for handling HTTP requests and defining controller actions in Ruby on Rails
  • Usage of authenticate_or_request_with_http_basic for implementing HTTP basic authentication

Description​

Non compliant code​

# app/controllers/application_controller.rb
class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
  before_action :authenticate

  private

  def authenticate
    authenticate_or_request_with_http_basic do |username, password|
      username == 'admin' && password == 'password'
    end
  end
end

The above code is an example of a Ruby on Rails controller that uses Basic HTTP Authentication. This is considered insecure for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the credentials (username and password) are hardcoded into the application, which is a bad practice. Anyone who has access to the source code can see these credentials.

Secondly, the authentication method itself is insecure. Basic HTTP Authentication transmits the username and password in plaintext with every request. This means that anyone who is able to intercept the network traffic (for example, on an unencrypted Wi-Fi network) would be able to see the credentials and use them to gain unauthorized access to the application.

Furthermore, this code does not use HTTPS, which means that the data is not encrypted during transmission. This makes it easy for attackers to intercept the data and gain access to sensitive information.

In summary, the above code is vulnerable due to the use of Basic HTTP Authentication over an insecure channel, the hardcoding of credentials, and the lack of encryption during data transmission.

Steps​

  • Step 1: Replace Basic authentication with a more secure authentication method, such as token-based authentication or session-based authentication.
  • Step 2: Ensure that the communication channel is secure by using HTTPS instead of HTTP.
  • Step 3: Implement strong password policies, such as enforcing minimum password length, complexity requirements, and password expiration.
  • Step 4: Store user passwords securely by using strong hashing algorithms, such as bcrypt, and salting the passwords.
  • Step 5: Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.
  • Step 6: Regularly update and patch the Ruby on Rails framework and other dependencies to ensure you have the latest security fixes.
  • Step 7: Perform regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address any other potential vulnerabilities.
  • Step 8: Educate developers and users about secure authentication practices and the importance of using strong, unique passwords.

Compliant code​

# app/controllers/application_controller.rb
class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
  before_action :authenticate

  private

  def authenticate
    authenticate_or_request_with_http_token do |token, options|
      User.find_by(authentication_token: token)
    end
  end
end

# app/models/user.rb
class User < ApplicationRecord
  before_save :ensure_authentication_token

  def ensure_authentication_token
    if authentication_token.blank?
      self.authentication_token = generate_authentication_token
    end
  end

  private

  def generate_authentication_token
    loop do
      token = Devise.friendly_token
      break token unless User.where(authentication_token: token).first
    end
  end
end

The above code replaces Basic authentication with token-based authentication, which is more secure. The authenticate method in the ApplicationController now uses authenticate_or_request_with_http_token to authenticate users based on a token. This token is stored in the User model and is automatically generated before saving a user, if it doesn't already exist.

The generate_authentication_token method in the User model generates a unique token using Devise.friendly_token. It checks if the generated token already exists in the database, and if it does, it generates a new one. This ensures that each user has a unique authentication token.

This code assumes that you are using the Devise gem for user authentication and that your User model has an authentication_token attribute. If you are not using Devise, you can replace Devise.friendly_token with your own token generation method.

Remember to use HTTPS instead of HTTP to ensure that the communication channel is secure. Also, implement strong password policies and store user passwords securely by using strong hashing algorithms, such as bcrypt, and salting the passwords. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication for added security. Regularly update and patch your Ruby on Rails framework and other dependencies, perform regular security assessments and penetration testing, and educate your developers and users about secure authentication practices.

References​

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