Protection of user privacy
import play.api.mvc._
import scala.concurrent.ExecutionContext.Implicits.global
class UserController @Inject()(cc: ControllerComponents) extends AbstractController(cc) {
def getUser = Action.async { implicit request: Request[AnyContent] =>
val userFuture = UserDatabase.getAllUsers() // Assume this function gets all user data from the database
userFuture.map { user =>
Ok(Json.toJson(user)) // Returns all user data including sensitive information
}
}
}
In the above code, the
getUser
function retrieves all users' data from the database and returns it as a JSON response. This is a privacy violation as it exposes sensitive information of all users, such as email, password hashes, and other personal data, to whoever calls this endpoint.
This is a violation of the principle of least privilege, which states that a process should only have access to the resources it needs to perform its function. Here, the endpoint is providing more information than necessary, which can be exploited by malicious actors for identity theft or other harmful activities.
The violation occurs in the line
Ok(Json.toJson(user))
where all user data is converted to JSON and returned in the response. This should be replaced with a function that only returns the necessary information, such as usernames or IDs, and hides the sensitive data.
import play.api.mvc._
import play.api.libs.json._
import scala.concurrent.ExecutionContext.Implicits.global
case class SafeUser(id: String, name: String) // This is a safe representation of User without sensitive data
class UserController @Inject()(cc: ControllerComponents) extends AbstractController(cc) {
def getUser = Action.async { implicit request: Request[AnyContent] =>
val userFuture = UserDatabase.getAllUsers() // Assume this function gets all user data from the database
userFuture.map { users =>
val safeUsers = users.map(user => SafeUser(user.id, user.name)) // Only expose non-sensitive data
Ok(Json.toJson(safeUsers)) // Returns safe user data
}
}
}
The original code was exposing all user data, including sensitive information, when the
getUser
endpoint was hit. This is a privacy violation as it exposes sensitive user information.
The fixed code introduces a new data model
SafeUser
which only includes non-sensitive user information. When the
getUser
endpoint is hit, instead of returning all user data, it now maps the user data to the
SafeUser
model and only exposes this safe data.
This fix ensures that sensitive user information is not exposed, thereby addressing the privacy violation. It's also recommended to implement proper authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure only authorized users can access the user data. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should also be performed to identify and address any privacy vulnerabilities.