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Traceability loss

Need​

Improved traceability and logging capabilities

Context​

  • Requirement of Ruby 2.0 or higher for running the application
  • Usage of Rails framework for building web applications

Description​

Non compliant code​

def create
  @user = User.new(user_params)
  if @user.save
    redirect_to @user
  else
    render 'new'
  end
end

The above code is a typical example of a create action in a Ruby on Rails controller. The action is responsible for creating a new user in the system.

The vulnerability lies in the lack of error logging and tracing. When the @user.save operation fails, the application simply renders the 'new' view without any logging or traceability of what caused the failure. This means if an exception or error occurs during this operation, there is no record of it, making it difficult to debug and identify potential security risks.

In a real-world application, these errors could be due to a variety of reasons including database issues, validation failures, or even potential security threats such as SQL Injection or Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. Without proper logging, these issues could go unnoticed, leaving the system vulnerable to potential attacks.

In the context of security, proper logging and traceability is crucial in identifying and mitigating potential security threats. It provides a record of all activities and can help detect any suspicious behavior or anomalies in the system.

Steps​

  • Implement proper error handling and logging mechanisms in the application.
  • Ensure that all critical actions and exceptional events are properly logged.
  • Use a centralized logging system to collect and analyze logs.
  • Regularly review and analyze the logs to detect any security events or anomalies.
  • Implement a robust monitoring system to track and alert on any suspicious activities.
  • Consider implementing a security information and event management (SIEM) system to enhance traceability and detection of security events.
  • Regularly update and patch the application and its dependencies to address any known vulnerabilities.

Compliant code​

def create
  @user = User.new(user_params)
  if @user.save
    logger.info "User created successfully with id: #{@user.id}"
    redirect_to @user
  else
    logger.error "Failed to create user due to errors: #{@user.errors.full_messages.join(", ")}"
    render 'new'
  end
end

The updated code now includes logging mechanisms that keep track of both successful and unsuccessful user creation attempts.

When a new user is successfully created, an informational log message is generated with the user's ID. This can be useful for tracking user creation events and identifying any unusual patterns or anomalies.

If the user creation attempt fails, an error log message is generated that includes the full list of errors returned by the @user.errors.full_messages method. This can help in identifying the cause of the failure and fixing any issues in the application.

These log messages can be collected and analyzed by a centralized logging system, which can provide valuable insights into the application's operation and help detect any security events or anomalies.

In addition to logging, it's also recommended to implement a robust monitoring system that can track and alert on any suspicious activities, and to regularly update and patch the application and its dependencies to address any known vulnerabilities.

For enhanced traceability and detection of security events, consider implementing a security information and event management (SIEM) system.

References​

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