How Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities Can Wreck Your Organization’s Security
Your organization’s security is a vital part of your business. Think about the data you store on your servers. Is it safe from unauthorized users? Are bits of private information like source codes and API keys inadvertently disclosed on your applications?
Information disclosure vulnerabilities come in various forms, from major data breaches to seemingly insignificant leaks. Even these minor vulnerabilities can potentially pave the way for more severe security issues.
What exactly are information disclosure vulnerabilities, and how do they impact your business’s security?
What Are Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities?
Information disclosure vulnerabilities are also known as sensitive information exposure or information disclosure vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities occur when private information about your assets, applications, or users is divulged or accessible to unauthorized entities. They can range from data leaks of users' personally identifiable information (PIIs) being exposed to directory names or your application’s source code.
Information disclosure vulnerabilities usually stem from poor security controls and processes. They occur when you fail to properly protect your sensitive data from cyber threats and the public at large. These vulnerabilities can be present in different types of applications such as APIs, cookies, websites, databases, system logs, and mobile apps.
Examples of sensitive information that can be leaked include:
The Impact of Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities on Your Organization’s Security
Information disclosure vulnerabilities can rank from critical vulnerabilities to low-severity vulnerabilities. It is important to understand that the impact and severity of an information disclosure vulnerability depends on the context and sensitivity of the disclosed information.
Let’s explore a few examples of information disclosure vulnerabilities to illustrate their varying impact and severity.
1. Data Breach of an Organization’s Database
A data breach is a security incident where hackers get unauthorized access to sensitive and confidential data in an organization. This type of information disclosure vulnerability is considered critical. If this occurs, and a dump of data like customer records and data is made available to unauthorized parties, the impact can be very severe. You can suffer legal consequences, financial and reputational damage, and you also put your customers at risk.
2. Exposed API Keys
API keys are used for authentication and authorization. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see API keys hard-coded in the source codes of websites or applications. Depending on how these keys are configured, they can grant hackers access to your services, where they would be able to impersonate users, gain access to resources, escalate privileges on your system, carry out unauthorized actions, and much more. This could also lead to data breaches and in turn loss of trust of your customers.
3. Exposed Session Keys
Session tokens, also referred to as cookies, serve as unique identifiers assigned to website users. In the event of session token leakage, hackers can exploit this vulnerability tohijack active user sessions, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the target’s account. Subsequently, the hacker can manipulate user data, potentially exposing further sensitive information. In the case of financial applications, this can escalate to financial crimes with serious repercussions.
4. Directory Listing
Directory listing occurs when the files and directories of a web server are displayed on the webpage. Of course, this does not directly disclose critical data, but it reveals the structure and content of the server and provides hackers with insights to carry out more specific attacks.
5. Improper Error Handling
This is a low-level vulnerability where error messages give the attacker information on the internal infrastructure of the application. For instance, a mobile application of a bank gives a transaction error: “UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ACCOUNT DETAILS. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO CONNECT TO THE REDIS SERVERS”. This tells the hacker that the application is running on a Redis server, and that is a clue that can be leveraged in subsequent attacks.
6. Leaked System Version Information
Sometimes, software versions or patch levels are unintentionally disclosed. While this information alone may not pose an immediate threat, it can assist attackers in identifying outdated systems or known vulnerabilities that could be targeted.
These are just some scenarios that highlight the potential impact and severity of information disclosure vulnerabilities. The consequences can range from compromised user privacy and financial losses to reputational damage, legal ramifications, and even identity theft.
How Can You Prevent Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities?
Now that we have established the various impacts of information disclosure vulnerabilities, and their potential to aid in cyberattacks, it is also vital to discuss preventive measures for this vulnerability. Here are some ways to prevent information disclosure vulnerabilities
Stay Ahead of Vulnerabilities With Regular Penetration Testing
To enhance your organization’s security and stay ahead of vulnerabilities, it’s suggested to conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration tests (VAPT) on your assets. This proactive approach helps identify potential weaknesses, including information disclosure vulnerabilities, through thorough testing and analysis from a hacker’s perspective. This way, information disclosure vulnerabilities are found and remediated before a hacker gets to them
Looking for a way to test your security systems? Here’s what you need to know about network penetration testing.
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