CRITICAL
Rule Definition
The software constructs all or part of an SQL command via numeric user-controllable inputs. These inputs are not neutralized or are incorrectly neutralized. As a consequence, a user may access to another user's data or record, affecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.
Remediation
Assume all input is malicious.
Avoid using inputs. If it is not possible, use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use stringent white-lists that limit the character set based on the expected value of the parameter in the request. This will indirectly limit the scope of an attack.
Note that the classical SQL sanitization does not apply for this quality rule.
Violation Code Sample
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// C#
using System;
using Microsoft.Data.SqlClient;
// The argument userId is given by a SQL query
private static void OutputPassword(int userId) // 1. Numeric user input
{
using var connection = new SqlConnection(GetConnectionString());
connection.Open();
var query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = @id";
using var command = new SqlCommand(query, connection);
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@id", userId); // 2. Numeric user input added
using var reader = command.ExecuteReader(); // 3. Numeric user input used in SQL query
while (reader.Read())
{
Console.WriteLine("Password=" + reader["password"]);
}
}
Fixed Code Sample
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// C#
using System;
using Microsoft.Data.SqlClient;
// The argument userId should be hard-coded or checked using a specific
// validation method if given by a SQL query
private static void OutputPassword(int userId) //1. OK
{
using var connection = new SqlConnection(GetConnectionString());
connection.Open();
var query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = @id";
using var command = new SqlCommand(query, connection);
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@id", userId); // 2. OK
using var reader = command.ExecuteReader(); // 3. OK
while (reader.Read())
{
Console.WriteLine("Password=" + reader["password"]);
}
}
Reference
CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/639.html
CWE-566: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled SQL Primary Key
https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/566.html
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) - Testing for Insecure Direct Object References
https://owasp.org/www-project-web-security-testing-guide/latest/4-Web_Application_Security_Testing/05-Authorization_Testing/04-Testing_for_Insecure_Direct_Object_References
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) - API1:2023 Broken Object Level Authorization
https://owasp.org/API-Security/editions/2023/en/0xa1-broken-object-level-authorization/
Related Technologies
Technical Criterion
Secure Coding - Input Validation
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