Secure handling of object references for corporate information
def uploadFile = Action(parse.multipartFormData) { request =>
request.body.file("excel").map { excelFile =>
val companyIdentifier = request.body.dataParts("payrollNumber").headOption
val employees = parseExcelFile(excelFile)
companyIdentifier.map { payrollNumber =>
employees.foreach { employee =>
EmployeeModel.updateOrCreate(payrollNumber, employee)
}
Ok("File has been uploaded and data processed.")
}.getOrElse {
BadRequest("Missing company identifier.")
}
}.getOrElse {
BadRequest("Missing file.")
}
}
def parseExcelFile(file: FilePart[TemporaryFile]): List[Employee] = {
// Logic to parse the Excel file and return a list of Employee objects
}
object EmployeeModel {
def updateOrCreate(payrollNumber: String, employee: Employee): Unit = {
// Logic to update or create an Employee in the database
}
}
The above code represents an insecure object reference vulnerability. The Play Framework action
uploadFile is responsible for handling file uploads, specifically excel files that contain employee data.
The vulnerability arises from the fact that the company identifier (payroll number) is taken directly from the request data and used to update or create Employee records in the database. There is no check to ensure that the user making the request has the appropriate permissions to modify data for the company identified by the payroll number.
When the excel file is uploaded, it is parsed into a list of Employee objects. These Employee objects are then passed, along with the payroll number, to the
updateOrCreate method of the
EmployeeModel. This method updates existing records or creates new ones based on the data provided. However, because there is no access control check before this operation, an attacker could potentially modify employee data for any company just by knowing its payroll number.
This means an attacker could upload a crafted excel file and specify a payroll number for a company they do not have access to, resulting in unauthorized modification of that company's employee data.
import play.api.mvc.Security.AuthenticatedRequest
def uploadFile = Action(parse.multipartFormData) { implicit request =>
request.body.file("excel").map { excelFile =>
val companyIdentifier = request.body.dataParts("payrollNumber").headOption
val employees = parseExcelFile(excelFile)
companyIdentifier.map { payrollNumber =>
if (isAuthorized(payrollNumber)) {
employees.foreach { employee =>
EmployeeModel.updateOrCreate(payrollNumber, employee)
}
Ok("File has been uploaded and data processed.")
} else {
Unauthorized("You are not authorized to modify this company's data.")
}
}.getOrElse {
BadRequest("Missing company identifier.")
}
}.getOrElse {
BadRequest("Missing file.")
}
}
def isAuthorized(payrollNumber: String)(implicit request: AuthenticatedRequest[_, _]): Boolean = {
// Logic to check if the user is authorized to modify the company's data
}
def parseExcelFile(file: FilePart[TemporaryFile]): List[Employee] = {
// Logic to parse the Excel file and return a list of Employee objects
}
object EmployeeModel {
def updateOrCreate(payrollNumber: String, employee: Employee): Unit = {
// Logic to update or create an Employee in the database
}
}
The updated code includes an authorization check to ensure that the user is authorized to modify the company's data. This is done by adding a new function
isAuthorized that takes the
payrollNumber as a parameter and checks if the user is authorized to modify the company's data. This function is called before updating or creating an Employee in the database.
The
uploadFile function now includes a check for authorization. If the user is not authorized to modify the company's data, the function returns an
Unauthorized response. If the user is authorized, the function proceeds as before.
The
isAuthorized function uses the
AuthenticatedRequest implicit parameter to get information about the authenticated user. This information can be used to check if the user has the necessary permissions to modify the company's data.
This solution ensures that only authorized users can modify the company's data, thus preventing unauthorized access and modification of data. It also provides meaningful feedback to the user in case of unauthorized access attempts.