Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
70 lines (51 loc) · 9.1 KB

mitigations.md

File metadata and controls

70 lines (51 loc) · 9.1 KB

Mitigation Strategies Analysis for chartjs/chart.js

Mitigation Strategy: Input Sanitization and Validation for Chart Data and Configuration

  • Description:

    • Step 1: Identify Chart Data and Configuration Inputs: Pinpoint all locations in your code where data and configuration options are passed to Chart.js to create or update charts. This includes data for datasets (labels, data points, background colors, etc.) and chart configuration objects.

    • Step 2: Sanitize Data Inputs: For any data that originates from untrusted sources (user input, external APIs, etc.) before it is used as chart data:

      • HTML Encoding for Labels and Tooltips: Apply HTML encoding to string values used in chart labels, tooltip content, and any other text rendered by Chart.js that could originate from untrusted sources. This prevents the injection of malicious HTML. Use appropriate encoding functions provided by your framework or a trusted library.
      • Data Type Validation: Ensure that data values are of the expected type (e.g., numbers for numerical datasets, strings for labels). Validate data types to prevent unexpected behavior in Chart.js that could be exploited or lead to errors.

    • Step 3: Validate Configuration Options: If any Chart.js configuration options are influenced by user input or external sources:

      • Whitelist Configuration Options: Define a strict whitelist of allowed configuration options that can be modified externally.
      • Validate Option Values: For whitelisted options, validate that the provided values are within expected ranges or are of the correct type. Avoid directly passing unsanitized user input to configuration options, even if they seem benign, as future Chart.js updates or plugins might introduce vulnerabilities through configuration.

    • Threats Mitigated:

      • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) via Data Injection (High Severity): Malicious scripts injected through chart data (e.g., in labels or tooltips) that are rendered by Chart.js and executed in the user's browser.
      • Data Integrity Issues Leading to Unexpected Behavior (Medium Severity): Invalid or unexpected data types in chart data can cause Chart.js to malfunction, potentially leading to incorrect chart rendering or application errors that could be further exploited.

    • Impact:

      • XSS via Data Injection: High reduction in risk. Sanitizing data before passing it to Chart.js effectively prevents XSS attacks that exploit chart rendering.
      • Data Integrity Issues: Medium reduction in risk. Data validation improves the robustness of chart rendering and reduces the chance of unexpected behavior due to data inconsistencies.

    • Currently Implemented: To be determined. Assess if data sanitization and validation are applied specifically to data and configuration options before they are used by Chart.js in the project.

    • Missing Implementation: To be determined. Identify areas where data used in Chart.js is not currently sanitized or validated, especially if this data originates from user input or external, untrusted sources. Focus on the data processing steps immediately before chart creation or updates.

Mitigation Strategy: Resource Management and Data Complexity Limits for Chart Rendering

  • Description:

    • Step 1: Analyze Chart Data Volume and Complexity: Understand the typical and maximum size and complexity of datasets that Chart.js will be rendering in your application. Consider the number of data points, datasets per chart, and the frequency of chart updates.

    • Step 2: Implement Data Limits for Chart.js:

      • Client-Side Data Limits: Set limits on the amount of data that Chart.js is asked to render at once. For example, limit the number of data points per dataset or the total number of datasets in a single chart. Implement client-side checks to enforce these limits before passing data to Chart.js.
      • Server-Side Data Reduction (Recommended): Prefer server-side data aggregation, filtering, or sampling to reduce the volume of data sent to the client for charting. This is more efficient than client-side limits alone.

    • Step 3: Optimize Chart Configuration for Performance:

      • Simplify Chart Types: Choose chart types that are appropriate for the data and avoid overly complex chart types if simpler ones can convey the information effectively.
      • Reduce Animations and Plugins (If Performance Critical): If performance is a major concern, especially on lower-powered devices, consider reducing or disabling animations and minimizing the use of plugins that might add rendering overhead.

    • Threats Mitigated:

      • Client-Side Denial of Service (DoS) via Resource Exhaustion (Medium Severity): Rendering extremely large or complex charts can consume excessive browser resources (CPU, memory), leading to performance degradation, browser crashes, or unresponsiveness, effectively causing a client-side DoS. This is especially relevant if an attacker can manipulate the data source to provide excessively large datasets.

    • Impact:

      • Client-Side DoS: Medium reduction in risk. Limiting data complexity and optimizing chart rendering reduces the likelihood of client-side DoS attacks that exploit Chart.js's rendering capabilities.

    • Currently Implemented: To be determined. Check if there are any mechanisms in place to limit the data volume or complexity of charts rendered by Chart.js. Are there server-side data reduction strategies or client-side data limits?

    • Missing Implementation: To be determined. If there are no controls on chart data volume or rendering complexity, especially in scenarios where data size could be large or user-controlled, implement data limits and optimization strategies. Focus on limiting data before it reaches Chart.js for rendering.

Mitigation Strategy: Review and Secure Chart.js Plugins and Extensions

  • Description:

    • Step 1: Inventory Used Chart.js Plugins: Create a list of all Chart.js plugins and extensions used in the project.

    • Step 2: Security Assessment of Plugins: For each plugin:

      • Source and Reputation: Verify the plugin's source. Prefer plugins from reputable developers, organizations, or official Chart.js ecosystem. Check the plugin's GitHub repository (if available) for activity, issue history, and community feedback.
      • Maintenance and Updates: Ensure the plugin is actively maintained and regularly updated. Outdated plugins are more likely to have unpatched vulnerabilities. Check the plugin's release history and last commit date.
      • Functionality Review: Understand what the plugin does and if its functionality is truly necessary for your application. Avoid using plugins that provide features you don't actually need.
      • Code Review (If Possible and Necessary): For plugins from less trusted sources or if security is a high concern, consider reviewing the plugin's source code for potential vulnerabilities or malicious code.

    • Step 3: Minimize Plugin Usage: Remove any plugins that are not strictly required for your application's core charting functionality. Fewer plugins reduce the potential attack surface.

    • Step 4: Keep Plugins Updated: Regularly check for updates to used Chart.js plugins and update them to the latest versions to benefit from bug fixes and security patches.

    • Threats Mitigated:

      • Vulnerabilities Introduced by Plugins (Medium to High Severity): Chart.js plugins, being third-party code, can contain security vulnerabilities (e.g., XSS, code injection) that could be exploited in your application.
      • Malicious Plugins (Low but Potential High Severity): While less common, plugins from untrusted sources could potentially be intentionally malicious and designed to compromise your application or user data.

    • Impact:

      • Plugin Vulnerabilities: Medium to High reduction in risk. Reviewing and securing plugins reduces the risk of introducing vulnerabilities through third-party Chart.js extensions.
      • Malicious Plugins: High reduction in risk (by avoiding untrusted sources). Careful plugin selection and source verification significantly reduces the risk of using malicious plugins.

    • Currently Implemented: To be determined. Check if there is a process for managing and reviewing Chart.js plugins used in the project. Is there a plugin inventory? Are plugin sources verified?

    • Missing Implementation: To be determined. If plugin management is not formalized, implement a process for plugin review, source verification, and minimization. Focus on creating a plugin inventory, assessing the necessity of each plugin, and establishing guidelines for plugin selection and updates.