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Non-encrypted confidential information

Need​

Protection of confidential information through encryption

Context​

  • Usage of Java for building robust and scalable applications
  • Usage of java.io.File for file input/output operations
  • Usage of java.io.BufferedWriter for efficient writing of character streams in Java
  • Usage of java.io.FileWriter for writing data to a file

Description​

Non compliant code​

import java.io._

val file = new File("confidential.txt")
val bw = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(file))
bw.write("Confidential Information")
bw.close()

The above Scala code represents a scenario where confidential information is being stored in a plain text file without any form of encryption.

The java.io._ package is imported to handle file operations. A new file named confidential.txt is created using val file = new File("confidential.txt").

A BufferedWriter object bw is created to write to this file. The confidential information "Confidential Information" is written to this file in plain text using bw.write("Confidential Information").

Finally, the BufferedWriter is closed using bw.close().

This represents a serious security vulnerability as any attacker who gains access to the system can view the confidential information without any restrictions, as it is stored in plain text without any form of encryption.

Steps​

  • Use a secure encryption algorithm to encrypt the confidential information before storing it.
  • Generate a strong encryption key to ensure the security of the encrypted data.
  • Store the encryption key securely, such as in a separate configuration file or using a key management system.
  • Implement proper access controls to restrict unauthorized access to the encrypted data.
  • Consider using a secure storage mechanism, such as a database with built-in encryption capabilities, to store the encrypted data.
  • Ensure that the encryption and decryption operations are performed securely and efficiently.
  • Regularly review and update the encryption mechanisms to stay up-to-date with the latest security practices.
  • Consider implementing additional security measures, such as data masking or tokenization, to further protect the confidential information.

Compliant code​

import java.io._
import java.security.SecureRandom
import javax.crypto.Cipher
import javax.crypto.KeyGenerator
import javax.crypto.spec.SecretKeySpec
import java.util.Base64

// Generate a secure encryption key
val keyGen = KeyGenerator.getInstance("AES")
keyGen.init(128)
val secretKey = keyGen.generateKey()

// Encrypt the confidential information
val cipher = Cipher.getInstance("AES")
cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, secretKey)
val confidentialInformation = "Confidential Information"
val encryptedData = cipher.doFinal(confidentialInformation.getBytes("UTF-8"))

// Convert encrypted data bytes to string
val encryptedString = Base64.getEncoder.encodeToString(encryptedData)

// Write the encrypted data to the file
val file = new File("confidential.txt")
val bw = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(file))
bw.write(encryptedString)
bw.close()

The above code fixes the vulnerability by encrypting the confidential information before storing it.

Firstly, it generates a secure encryption key using the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm. The key size is set to 128 bits, which provides a good level of security.

Next, it initializes a Cipher instance for the AES algorithm and sets it to encryption mode with the generated secret key.

The confidential information is then encrypted using the initialized cipher. The result is a byte array of encrypted data.

The byte array is then converted to a string using Base64 encoding. This is done to ensure that the encrypted data can be safely written to a text file without any data loss or corruption.

Finally, the encrypted string is written to the file.

This way, even if an attacker gains access to the file, they will not be able to read the confidential information without the encryption key.

Please note that the encryption key should be stored securely and not hardcoded in the application. Consider using a secure key management system or storing the key in a separate configuration file with restricted access.

Also, ensure that proper access controls are implemented to restrict unauthorized access to the encrypted data. Regularly review and update the encryption mechanisms to stay up-to-date with the latest security practices.

References​

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