mitigations.md

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for oracle/node-oracledb

Mitigation Strategy: Parameterized Queries (Bind Variables) with node-oracledb

• Description:
  1. Developers must exclusively use parameterized queries when interacting with the Oracle database through node-oracledb.
  2. When using connection.execute() or similar functions, always utilize bind variables (placeholders like :paramName) within the SQL query string.
  3. Provide the actual values for these parameters as a separate object or array argument to the execute() function. node-oracledb will handle proper escaping and substitution.
  4. Example: connection.execute("SELECT * FROM items WHERE item_id = :itemId", { itemId: userInputItemId });
  5. Actively audit code to eliminate any instances where SQL queries are constructed by concatenating strings with user inputs when using node-oracledb.
  6. Enforce code reviews to ensure all database interactions via node-oracledb adhere to parameterized query usage.
  • Threats Mitigated:
    • SQL Injection (High Severity): Specifically prevents SQL injection vulnerabilities that can arise from improper handling of user input within node-oracledb database queries.
  • Impact:
    • SQL Injection: Risk of SQL injection via node-oracledb is effectively eliminated if consistently implemented. This directly secures database interactions performed by the application using this library.
  • Currently Implemented: Partially implemented. Parameterized queries are used in core data retrieval functions using node-oracledb.
    • Location: Data access layer modules utilizing node-oracledb for primary data fetching.
  • Missing Implementation: Inconsistent usage in less frequently used modules and administrative functionalities that also interact with the database through node-oracledb.
    • Location: Administrative modules, reporting features, and data export functionalities using node-oracledb.

Mitigation Strategy: Regular Updates of node-oracledb and its Dependencies

• Description:
  1. Establish a routine for regularly checking for and applying updates to the node-oracledb library itself and its direct and indirect dependencies within the Node.js project.
  2. Utilize npm audit or yarn audit commands to identify known security vulnerabilities in the node-oracledb dependency tree.
  3. Prioritize applying security patches and updates for node-oracledb promptly after release, following testing in a non-production environment.
  4. Monitor Oracle's security advisories and the node-oracledb project's release notes for any security-related announcements or recommended updates.
  5. Integrate dependency vulnerability scanning and update processes into the CI/CD pipeline to automate checks for node-oracledb and its dependencies before deployment.
  • Threats Mitigated:
    • Exploitation of Known node-oracledb Vulnerabilities (Medium to High Severity): Reduces the risk of attackers exploiting publicly disclosed security vulnerabilities that might be present in outdated versions of the node-oracledb library itself.
    • Exploitation of Vulnerabilities in node-oracledb Dependencies (Medium Severity): Mitigates risks arising from vulnerabilities in libraries that node-oracledb depends upon.
  • Impact:
    • node-oracledb Vulnerabilities & Dependency Vulnerabilities: Significantly reduces the attack surface related to known vulnerabilities within the node-oracledb library and its ecosystem. Ensures the application benefits from security fixes and improvements provided in newer versions of node-oracledb.
  • Currently Implemented: Basic dependency updates are performed periodically, but specific node-oracledb updates are not prioritized or tracked separately. No automated vulnerability scanning for node-oracledb dependencies is in place.
    • Location: General dependency management process, documented in project's README.
  • Missing Implementation: Implement dedicated tracking and prioritization of node-oracledb updates, and integrate automated vulnerability scanning specifically for node-oracledb and its dependencies within the CI/CD pipeline.
    • Location: CI/CD pipeline configuration, dependency management scripts, project's security guidelines.

Mitigation Strategy: Control node-oracledb Error Reporting Level and Secure Logging of Database Interactions

• Description:
  1. Configure node-oracledb's error handling to avoid exposing overly detailed database error messages to users. Utilize generic error messages in the application's user interface.
  2. Review node-oracledb configuration options related to error reporting and adjust them to minimize verbosity in production environments.
  3. Implement secure logging practices specifically for database interactions performed via node-oracledb:
     • Log relevant events related to database connections, queries executed (without sensitive data), and errors encountered by node-oracledb.
     • Ensure that sensitive data, such as query parameters containing passwords or personal information, is not logged in plain text. Implement data masking or filtering in logging configurations.
     • Securely store and manage logs generated by node-oracledb interactions, implementing appropriate access controls and rotation policies.
  • Threats Mitigated:
    • Information Disclosure via Error Messages (Low to Medium Severity): Prevents attackers from gaining detailed information about the database structure, query syntax, or internal errors through verbose node-oracledb error messages.
    • Sensitive Data Exposure in Logs (Medium Severity): Protects against accidental logging of sensitive data during database interactions performed by node-oracledb, which could be exploited if logs are compromised.
  • Impact:
    • Information Disclosure & Sensitive Data Exposure: Reduces the risk of information leakage through node-oracledb error messages and logs. Makes it harder for attackers to gather reconnaissance information and prevents unintentional exposure of sensitive data handled by node-oracledb.
  • Currently Implemented: Basic error handling exists, but node-oracledb specific error reporting level is not explicitly configured. Logging of database queries is implemented, but without sensitive data filtering.
    • Location: Error handling middleware in app.js, logging configuration in logger.js, database interaction logging within data access modules.
  • Missing Implementation: Explicitly configure node-oracledb error reporting level for production. Implement sensitive data filtering in logging mechanisms for database queries executed via node-oracledb. Review and enhance log access controls and rotation policies for database interaction logs.
    • Location: node-oracledb configuration within database connection setup, logging configuration in logger.js, log storage and access control configuration.