Need

Protection of sensitive business information from unauthorized access or disclosure

Context

• Usage of TypeScript for statically typed JavaScript development
• Usage of Express for building web applications and APIs

Description

Non compliant code

        import express from 'express';

const app = express();

app.get('/business-info', (req, res) => {
  // Fetch and return business information
  const usernameList = ['user1', 'user2', 'user3'];
  const strategicInfo = 'Confidential information';
  const employeesInfo = ['employee1', 'employee2', 'employee3'];
  const clientsInfo = ['client1', 'client2', 'client3'];
  const providersInfo = ['provider1', 'provider2', 'provider3'];

  res.json({
    usernameList,
    strategicInfo,
    employeesInfo,
    clientsInfo,
    providersInfo,
  });
});

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

The vulnerability in this code is a business information leak. The /business-info endpoint is defined to handle GET requests and returns sensitive business information in the response.

The code defines several variables that contain sensitive information, such as usernameList, strategicInfo, employeesInfo, clientsInfo, and providersInfo. When a user makes a GET request to the /business-info endpoint, all of this sensitive information is returned in the response as a JSON object.

This poses a security risk because anyone who has access to this endpoint can obtain the business information, including usernames, strategic information, employee details, client details, and provider details. This information can be used to create new attack vectors or exploit the business in various ways.

To address this vulnerability, it is recommended to implement proper access controls and authentication mechanisms. Only authorized users should be able to access this sensitive information. Additionally, sensitive information should be stored securely and accessed only when necessary, following the principle of least privilege.

Steps

• Remove the route '/business-info' or restrict access to it
• Implement authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access the business information
• Store sensitive information, such as usernames, strategic information, employees information, clients information, and providers information, in a secure manner, such as encrypted databases or secure file storage
• Implement access controls to ensure that only authorized users can access the sensitive information
• Regularly review and update access controls and permissions to prevent unauthorized access to the business information
• Consider implementing additional security measures, such as encryption, to protect the confidentiality of the business information
• Educate employees and users about the importance of protecting sensitive information and the potential risks of business information leaks

Compliant code

        import express from 'express';

const app = express();

// Authentication middleware
app.use((req, res, next) => {
  // Implement authentication logic here
  // Check if the user is authenticated and authorized to access the business information
  // If not, return an error response or redirect to a login page
  // Otherwise, proceed to the next middleware or route handler
  next();
});

app.get('/business-info', (req, res) => {
  // Fetch and return business information
  const usernameList = ['user1', 'user2', 'user3'];
  const strategicInfo = 'Confidential information';
  const employeesInfo = ['employee1', 'employee2', 'employee3'];
  const clientsInfo = ['client1', 'client2', 'client3'];
  const providersInfo = ['provider1', 'provider2', 'provider3'];

  res.json({
    usernameList,
    strategicInfo,
    employeesInfo,
    clientsInfo,
    providersInfo,
  });
});

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

The fixed code addresses the vulnerability by implementing authentication middleware to ensure that only authenticated and authorized users can access the business information.

The code uses the Express framework to create a server. It starts by importing the Express module and creating an instance of the application.

The first middleware function is added using the app.use method. This middleware is responsible for authentication. It checks if the user is authenticated and authorized to access the business information. If the user is not authenticated, the middleware can return an error response or redirect them to a login page. If the user is authenticated, the middleware calls the next function to proceed to the next middleware or route handler.

The /business-info route is defined using the app.get method. This route is protected by the authentication middleware, ensuring that only authenticated users can access it. Inside the route handler, the business information is fetched and returned as a JSON response.

The business information includes a username list, strategic information, employees' information, clients' information, and providers' information. These values are hardcoded for demonstration purposes, but in a real application, they would be fetched from a secure data source.

Finally, the server listens on port 3000, and a message is logged to the console to indicate that the server is running.

By implementing authentication middleware and protecting the /business-info route, the fixed code ensures that only authenticated and authorized users can access the business information, mitigating the risk of a business information leak.

References

• 038. Business information leak