CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
Learn about CWE-532 (Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File), its security impact, exploitation methods, and prevention guidelines.
What is Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File?
• Overview: This vulnerability occurs when a software application logs sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal identification numbers, into log files. These log files can be accessed by unauthorized users, leading to potential data breaches.
• Exploitation Methods:
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by gaining unauthorized access to log files that contain sensitive information.
- Common attack patterns include searching for log files in publicly accessible directories or using insider threats to access logs.
• Security Impact:
- Direct consequences include unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, leading to privacy violations.
- Potential cascading effects can involve identity theft, financial fraud, or further system compromise.
- Business impact includes loss of customer trust, legal penalties, and financial losses due to breaches.
• Prevention Guidelines:
- Specific code-level fixes include ensuring that sensitive data is not logged or is masked/redacted before logging.
- Security best practices involve implementing strict access controls to log files and regularly auditing logs for sensitive information.
- Recommended tools and frameworks include using logging libraries that support data redaction and employing centralized logging solutions with built-in security features.
Technical Details
Likelihood of Exploit:
Affected Languages: Not specified
Affected Technologies: Not specified