Components with Vulnerabilities



This kind of threat occurs when the components such as libraries and frameworks used within the app almost always execute with full privileges. If a vulnerable component is exploited, it makes the hacker’s job easier to cause a serious data loss or server takeover.

Let us understand Threat Agents, Attack Vectors, Security Weakness, Technical Impact and Business Impacts of this flaw with the help of simple diagram.

using_components_with_known_vulnerabilities

Example

The following examples are of using components with known vulnerabilities −

  • Attackers can invoke any web service with full permission by failing to provide an identity token.

  • Remote-code execution with Expression Language injection vulnerability is introduced through the Spring Framework for Java based apps.

Preventive Mechanisms

  • Identify all components and the versions that are being used in the webapps not just restricted to database/frameworks.

  • Keep all the components such as public databases, project mailing lists etc. up to date.

  • Add security wrappers around components that are vulnerable in nature.

Advertisements