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Attack Surface Analysis for yiisoft/yii2

Attack Surface: Mass Assignment Vulnerability

  • Description: Attackers manipulate model attributes they shouldn't have access to by submitting crafted form data.
  • Yii2 Contribution: Yii2's ActiveRecord models use mass assignment for convenience, which, if misconfigured, opens this vulnerability. This is a direct consequence of Yii2's design.
  • Example: An attacker adds &User[is_admin]=1 to a registration form's POST data, potentially gaining administrative privileges if the is_admin attribute isn't explicitly protected.
  • Impact: Unauthorized data modification, privilege escalation.
  • Risk Severity: High to Critical (depending on the affected attributes).
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Strict rules() Definition: Explicitly define safe attributes in model rules(). Use scenarios to control which attributes are mass-assignable in different contexts.
    • Explicit Assignment: Prefer explicit attribute assignment (e.g., $model->username = $data['username'];) over mass assignment for sensitive fields.
    • Input Validation: Thoroughly validate all input data, even for attributes considered "safe," to prevent unexpected values.
    • Use load() with Caution: When using load(), ensure the data source is trusted and the scenario is correctly set.

Attack Surface: SQL Injection (via ActiveRecord)

  • Description: Attackers inject malicious SQL code through user input that is used in database queries.
  • Yii2 Contribution: While ActiveRecord generally protects against SQL injection, improper use of query building methods (especially findBySql(), or bypassing parameter binding) can create vulnerabilities. This is a direct risk stemming from how developers use Yii2's features.
  • Example: Using $query->where("username = '" . $_GET['username'] . "'") instead of $query->where(['username' => $_GET['username']]).
  • Impact: Data breach, data modification, data deletion, server compromise.
  • Risk Severity: Critical.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Parameterized Queries: Always use ActiveRecord's built-in parameter binding (prepared statements). Avoid direct string concatenation with user input in query conditions.
    • Input Validation: Sanitize and validate all user input used in queries, even if it's not directly part of the SQL string (e.g., column names, sort order).
    • Least Privilege: Ensure the database user account used by the application has only the necessary privileges.

Attack Surface: Gii/Debug Module Enabled in Production

  • Description: The Gii code generator and Debug module expose sensitive information about the application if left enabled in production.
  • Yii2 Contribution: These are powerful development tools provided by Yii2, but they are not intended for production use. Their presence in production is a direct Yii2-related risk.
  • Example: Accessing /gii or /debug on a production server reveals database schema, code structure, and other sensitive information.
  • Impact: Information disclosure, facilitating targeted attacks.
  • Risk Severity: Critical.
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Disable in Production: Ensure that both Gii and the Debug module are completely disabled in production environments by removing or commenting out the relevant configuration sections in the application's configuration file. This is a critical configuration step.

Attack Surface: Improper RBAC Configuration

  • Description: Incorrectly configured Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) can lead to authorization bypass.
    • Yii2 Contribution: Yii2 provides a robust RBAC system, but it requires careful configuration. The vulnerability arises directly from how this Yii2 feature is (mis)used.
    • Example: A misconfigured rule allows users with the "editor" role to access actions intended only for "administrators."
    • Impact: Unauthorized access to data and functionality.
    • Risk Severity: High to Critical.
    • Mitigation Strategies:
      • Careful Design: Carefully design and implement RBAC rules, ensuring that all actions and resources are protected by appropriate access checks.
      • Regular Audits: Regularly audit RBAC configurations to ensure they are up-to-date and effective.
      • Testing: Thoroughly test RBAC implementation to ensure it works as expected.
      • Least Privilege: Grant users only the minimum necessary permissions.
      • Use can(): Always use the can() method to check user permissions before granting access to resources or actions.