Implementation of proper credit card validation and security measures
class CreditCardController < ApplicationController
def show
@credit_card = CreditCard.find(params[:id])
end
def update
@credit_card = CreditCard.find(params[:id])
if @credit_card.update(credit_card_params)
redirect_to @credit_card
else
render 'edit'
end
end
private
def credit_card_params
params.require(:credit_card).permit(:number, :expiry_date, :cvv)
end
end
The code above represents a controller in a Ruby on Rails application that is handling credit card information. The
show method retrieves a credit card by its ID and the
update method allows for updating the credit card details.
The vulnerability lies in the
credit_card_params method. This method is using strong parameters to whitelist the attributes that can be updated. However, it is allowing the
expiry_date and
cvv (Card Verification Value) to be updated without any validation.
This means that an attacker could potentially pass in any value for these fields and the application would accept them. This could lead to the exposure of sensitive credit card information, as well as the possibility of making unauthorized transactions.
In addition, the
show method is directly exposing all the credit card details which include the
number,
expiry_date, and
cvv. This is a serious security concern as these details should never be exposed.
This vulnerability is known as Automatic Information Enumeration, as it allows an attacker to automatically list and modify credit card information without any checks or validations.
class CreditCardController < ApplicationController
before_action :set_credit_card, only: [:show, :update]
before_action :check_rate_limit, only: [:show, :update]
def show
end
def update
if @credit_card.update(credit_card_params)
redirect_to @credit_card
else
render 'edit'
end
end
private
def set_credit_card
@credit_card = CreditCard.find(params[:id])
authorize @credit_card
end
def check_rate_limit
# Implement your rate limiting logic here
end
def credit_card_params
params.require(:credit_card).permit(:number, :expiry_date, :cvv)
validate_card_params
end
def validate_card_params
# Implement your validation logic here
end
end
The updated code includes several security measures to prevent automatic information enumeration of credit card data.
1. Validation: The
validate_card_params method should contain the logic to validate the credit card number, expiry date, and CVV. This ensures that only valid credit card information is processed.
2. Rate Limiting: The
check_rate_limit method should contain the logic to limit the number of requests a user can make within a certain time frame. This prevents automated scripts from rapidly enumerating through possible credit card information.
3. Access Control: The
authorize method in the
set_credit_card method should contain the logic to check if the current user has the necessary permissions to access the requested credit card information. This prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data.
4. Encryption: Although not shown in the code, it is recommended to use a secure encryption algorithm when storing credit card information in your database. This ensures that even if an attacker gains access to your database, they cannot read the sensitive credit card information.
5. Regular Updates and Patches: Regularly update and patch the Ruby on Rails framework and its dependencies to address any security vulnerabilities. This ensures that your application is protected against known vulnerabilities in the software it uses.