Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
59 lines (48 loc) · 7.33 KB

attack-surface.md

File metadata and controls

59 lines (48 loc) · 7.33 KB

Attack Surface Analysis for yhirose/cpp-httplib

Attack Surface: HTTP Header Parsing Vulnerabilities

Description: Flaws in cpp-httplib's parsing of HTTP headers can lead to buffer overflows, integer overflows, or format string bugs due to malformed or excessively large headers.

  • cpp-httplib Contribution: cpp-httplib is responsible for parsing incoming HTTP request headers to extract crucial information. Vulnerabilities here are within the library's header parsing implementation.
  • Example: A malicious client sends a request with an extremely long header line exceeding buffer limits in cpp-httplib's header parsing code. This could cause a buffer overflow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the server.
  • Impact: Remote Code Execution, Denial of Service.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Keep cpp-httplib updated: Regularly update to the latest version of cpp-httplib to benefit from bug fixes and security patches in header parsing logic.
    • Compiler Security Features: Ensure the application and cpp-httplib are compiled with modern compiler security features enabled (like ASLR, Stack Canaries, DEP) to make exploitation more difficult.

Attack Surface: URI Parsing Vulnerabilities (Path Traversal)

Description: Improper URI parsing within cpp-httplib can lead to path traversal vulnerabilities when handling file requests. If the library doesn't correctly sanitize or validate requested paths, attackers might access files outside the intended web root.

  • cpp-httplib Contribution: cpp-httplib's file serving functionalities rely on parsing the URI to determine the requested file path. Vulnerabilities in this parsing within cpp-httplib directly contribute to path traversal risks.
  • Example: When serving files using cpp-httplib, a request with a URI like /../../sensitive.conf is sent. If cpp-httplib's path handling is flawed, it might incorrectly resolve this path and serve sensitive.conf from outside the intended directory.
  • Impact: Information Disclosure, Unauthorized Access to Sensitive Files.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Restrict cpp-httplib Base Directory: When using file serving, strictly define and limit the base directory that cpp-httplib is allowed to access.
    • Path Normalization within Application: While cpp-httplib handles path parsing, ensure your application logic that interacts with file paths also performs path normalization and validation to prevent traversal attempts before passing paths to cpp-httplib file serving functions.

Attack Surface: HTTP Body Parsing Vulnerabilities (Buffer Overflows, DoS)

Description: Vulnerabilities in cpp-httplib's handling of HTTP request bodies, especially when parsing specific content types or handling large bodies, can lead to buffer overflows or denial of service.

  • cpp-httplib Contribution: cpp-httplib is responsible for receiving and potentially parsing request bodies. Flaws in its body parsing implementation can be exploited.
  • Example: A malicious client sends a POST request with an extremely large body, potentially exceeding buffer limits in cpp-httplib's body handling code. This could lead to a buffer overflow or excessive memory consumption causing a denial of service.
  • Impact: Denial of Service, Remote Code Execution.
  • Risk Severity: High to Critical (depending on exploitability for code execution).
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Limit Request Body Size in Application: Configure your application to enforce limits on the maximum allowed request body size before it's fully processed by cpp-httplib. This can prevent resource exhaustion and mitigate buffer overflow risks.
    • Keep cpp-httplib Updated: Ensure you are using the latest version of cpp-httplib which includes fixes for potential body parsing vulnerabilities.

Attack Surface: SSL/TLS Vulnerabilities (Underlying Library Dependency)

Description: cpp-httplib relies on an external SSL/TLS library (like OpenSSL or mbedTLS) for HTTPS functionality. Vulnerabilities within these underlying libraries directly impact the security of applications using cpp-httplib over HTTPS.

  • cpp-httplib Contribution: cpp-httplib's HTTPS support is built upon and depends on the security of the linked SSL/TLS library. It directly exposes the attack surface of the underlying library.
  • Example: A critical vulnerability is discovered in the version of OpenSSL that cpp-httplib is linked against. This vulnerability could be exploited to perform man-in-the-middle attacks or gain access to encrypted communication even when using cpp-httplib for HTTPS.
  • Impact: Information Disclosure, Man-in-the-Middle Attacks, Complete Loss of Confidentiality and Integrity for HTTPS traffic.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Regularly Update SSL/TLS Library: The most critical mitigation is to diligently update the underlying SSL/TLS library (e.g., OpenSSL, mbedTLS) to the latest patched versions. This is essential to address known vulnerabilities.
    • Secure Build and Linking: Ensure your build process correctly links against the updated SSL/TLS library. Verify the linked version after updates.
    • Monitor Security Advisories: Subscribe to security advisories for the SSL/TLS library you are using to stay informed about new vulnerabilities and required updates.

Attack Surface: WebSocket Handshake Vulnerabilities (Authentication Bypass)

Description: Vulnerabilities in cpp-httplib's WebSocket handshake handling could potentially allow attackers to bypass authentication or establish unauthorized WebSocket connections.

  • cpp-httplib Contribution: cpp-httplib implements the WebSocket handshake process. Flaws in this implementation within the library can lead to security issues.
  • Example: A vulnerability in cpp-httplib's WebSocket handshake logic might allow an attacker to craft a malicious handshake request that bypasses intended authentication checks, granting them access to WebSocket functionalities without proper authorization.
  • Impact: Unauthorized Access, Data Manipulation via WebSocket, Potential for further exploitation depending on WebSocket application logic.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Review and Test WebSocket Implementation: Carefully review and thoroughly test the WebSocket handshake handling in your application and how you utilize cpp-httplib's WebSocket features.
    • Implement Application-Level Authentication: Do not rely solely on the basic WebSocket handshake for security. Implement robust application-level authentication and authorization mechanisms on top of the WebSocket connection to verify and control access.
    • Keep cpp-httplib Updated: Update cpp-httplib to the latest version to benefit from potential fixes in WebSocket handshake handling.