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Attack Surface Analysis for oracle/helidon

Attack Surface: Configuration Files Exposure

  • Description: Sensitive information within Helidon configuration files (e.g., application.yaml, application.properties) is exposed to unauthorized access.
  • Helidon Contribution: Helidon directly uses configuration files as a primary mechanism for application settings, including security parameters, database credentials, and API keys. Misconfiguration or insecure deployment directly exposes these Helidon-managed files.
  • Example: A developer deploys a Helidon application and leaves the application.yaml file accessible via the web server, allowing an attacker to download it and retrieve database credentials configured for the Helidon application.
  • Impact: Full compromise of the database, unauthorized access to internal systems, data breaches.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Secure File Storage: Store Helidon configuration files outside the web server's document root.
    • Restrict Access: Implement strict access controls to configuration files, limiting access to only authorized users and processes.
    • Externalized Configuration: Utilize environment variables, HashiCorp Vault, or Kubernetes Secrets for sensitive data instead of storing them directly in Helidon configuration files.
    • Configuration Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data within Helidon configuration files if externalization is not fully feasible.

Attack Surface: Default Configurations

  • Description: Using insecure default settings provided by Helidon or its underlying components without proper hardening.
  • Helidon Contribution: Helidon directly provides default configurations for ease of initial setup. These defaults, managed by Helidon, may not be suitable for production environments and can introduce vulnerabilities if left unchanged in a Helidon application.
  • Example: A developer deploys a Helidon application using the default HTTP port and without enabling TLS/SSL, relying on Helidon's default settings. An attacker can intercept unencrypted traffic to the Helidon application, potentially capturing sensitive data.
  • Impact: Data interception, man-in-the-middle attacks, exposure of internal services, DoS attacks due to unoptimized settings.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Review and Harden Defaults: Thoroughly review all default configurations provided by Helidon and its components (e.g., Netty, Micrometer) and harden them for production.
    • Follow Security Best Practices: Adhere to security hardening guides and best practices specifically for Helidon applications.
    • Principle of Least Privilege: Configure Helidon services with the minimum necessary permissions and access levels.

Attack Surface: Netty Version Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Exploiting known security vulnerabilities in the specific version of Netty used by Helidon SE.
  • Helidon Contribution: Helidon SE directly embeds and relies on Netty as its web server. Vulnerabilities in Netty directly impact Helidon applications. Helidon's dependency management choices determine the Netty version used.
  • Example: A known vulnerability exists in the version of Netty bundled with a deployed Helidon application that allows for a Denial of Service attack. An attacker exploits this Netty vulnerability, causing the Helidon application to become unavailable.
  • Impact: Denial of Service, potential Remote Code Execution (in severe cases), Helidon application instability.
  • Risk Severity: High to Critical (depending on the specific Netty vulnerability)
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Regularly Update Helidon: Keep the Helidon framework updated to the latest stable versions, which typically include updated and patched dependencies like Netty.
    • Dependency Scanning: Implement dependency scanning tools to identify known vulnerabilities in Netty and other dependencies used by Helidon.
    • Security Monitoring: Monitor security advisories and vulnerability databases for Netty and Helidon.

Attack Surface: Security Interceptors/Filters Misconfiguration

  • Description: Incorrectly configured security interceptors or filters in Helidon leading to authorization bypasses or authentication flaws.
  • Helidon Contribution: Helidon directly provides security interceptors and filters as the framework's mechanism for implementing authentication and authorization. Misconfiguration of these Helidon components creates security gaps within the application.
  • Example: A developer incorrectly configures a Helidon security interceptor, failing to properly enforce authorization checks on a critical endpoint. An unauthenticated user can bypass the intended Helidon security and access sensitive data.
  • Impact: Unauthorized access to resources, data breaches, privilege escalation.
  • Risk Severity: High to Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Thorough Security Testing: Conduct comprehensive security testing, including penetration testing and code reviews, specifically focusing on Helidon's security interceptor and filter configurations.
    • Principle of Least Privilege in Authorization: Implement authorization policies within Helidon based on the principle of least privilege.
    • Centralized Security Configuration: Centralize Helidon security configuration and policies to ensure consistency and reduce misconfiguration.
    • Code Reviews: Conduct thorough code reviews of Helidon security interceptor and filter configurations.

Attack Surface: JWT Implementation Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Exploiting weaknesses in the JWT (JSON Web Token) implementation or configuration when used for authentication in Helidon applications.
  • Helidon Contribution: Helidon directly offers built-in support for JWT-based authentication as a framework feature. Vulnerabilities in Helidon's JWT handling or configuration can be exploited.
  • Example: A developer uses a weak secret key for signing JWTs in a Helidon application, relying on Helidon's JWT features. An attacker can compromise the secret key and forge valid JWTs to impersonate users within the Helidon application.
  • Impact: Authentication bypass, unauthorized access, account takeover.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Strong Secret Keys: Use strong, randomly generated, and securely stored secret keys for JWT signing within Helidon.
    • Algorithm Selection: Use robust and recommended JWT signing algorithms (e.g., RS256, ES256) supported by Helidon and avoid deprecated or weak algorithms.
    • JWT Validation: Implement proper JWT validation using Helidon's JWT features, including signature verification, expiration checks, and audience/issuer validation.