Account Takeover

Need

Enhanced authentication and access control measures to prevent unauthorized account access

Context

• Usage of Node.js v14.0.0 for server-side JavaScript development
• Usage of Express for building web applications and APIs

Description

Non compliant code

import express from 'express';

const app = express();

app.post('/login', (req, res) => {
  const { username, password } = req.body;

  // Vulnerable code: No validation or authentication is performed
  // allowing anyone to login without proper credentials
  if (username && password) {
    res.status(200).json({ message: 'Login successful' });
  } else {
    res.status(401).json({ message: 'Invalid credentials' });
  }
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server started on port 3000');
});

The vulnerability in the provided code is an Account Takeover vulnerability. This vulnerability occurs because the code does not perform any validation or authentication when a user attempts to log in.

In the code, the /login endpoint is defined as a POST request handler. It retrieves the username and password from the request body. However, it does not check if the credentials provided are valid or if the user is authorized to access the account.

This means that anyone can send a POST request to the /login endpoint with any username and password, and the server will respond with a "Login successful" message, granting access to the account. This allows an attacker to take control over any user's account without knowing the correct credentials.

The impact of this vulnerability includes affecting the traceability and non-repudiation of the user's actions. It can also deny the legitimate user access to their own account and potentially expose confidential information stored within the account.

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to implement proper validation and authentication mechanisms. This can include verifying the provided credentials against a database of authorized users and ensuring that the requester is the actual account owner. Additionally, implementing measures like multi-factor authentication and account recovery mechanisms can further enhance the security of user accounts.

Steps

• Implement proper validation and authentication for the login process
• Verify the credentials provided by the user against a secure database or user store
• Use secure password hashing algorithms and techniques to store and compare passwords
• Implement mechanisms to detect and prevent brute-force attacks
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security
• Consider implementing account lockout mechanisms after multiple failed login attempts
• Implement session management and expiration to prevent session hijacking
• Regularly update and patch the application and its dependencies to fix any known vulnerabilities
• Perform security testing and code reviews to identify and fix any other potential vulnerabilities

Compliant code

import express from 'express';

const app = express();

app.use(express.json());

app.post('/login', (req, res) => {
  const { username, password } = req.body;

  // Perform proper validation and authentication
  if (isValidCredentials(username, password)) {
    res.status(200).json({ message: 'Login successful' });
  } else {
    res.status(401).json({ message: 'Invalid credentials' });
  }
});

function isValidCredentials(username: string, password: string): boolean {
  // Verify credentials against a secure database or user store
  // Implement secure password hashing and comparison techniques
  // Implement mechanisms to detect and prevent brute-force attacks
  // Implement multi-factor authentication if necessary

  // Example: Simple validation for demonstration purposes
  return username === 'admin' && password === 'password';
}

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server started on port 3000');
});

The fixed code is written in TypeScript and uses the Express framework to create a server. It addresses the vulnerability by implementing proper validation and authentication mechanisms for user login.

Here's an explanation of the code:

1. The code imports the Express module and creates an instance of the Express application.
2. The express.json() middleware is used to parse incoming requests with JSON payloads.
3. The code defines a POST route /login to handle user login requests.
4. In the route handler, the code extracts the username and password from the request body.
5. The isValidCredentials function is called to validate the provided credentials.
6. Inside the isValidCredentials function, it is mentioned that secure database or user store should be used to verify the credentials. It also suggests implementing secure password hashing and comparison techniques, mechanisms to prevent brute-force attacks, and multi-factor authentication if necessary.
7. For demonstration purposes, a simple validation is implemented in the isValidCredentials function, where it checks if the username is 'admin' and the password is 'password'. In a real-world scenario, this would be replaced with a secure authentication mechanism.
8. If the credentials are valid, a 200 response with a success message is sent back to the client. Otherwise, a 401 response with an invalid credentials message is sent.
9. The server is started on port 3000.

By implementing proper validation and authentication techniques, the code ensures that only legitimate users with valid credentials can access their accounts. This helps to prevent unauthorized access and potential account takeovers.

References

• 417.Account Takeover