Don't Return to Misconfigured Package Management (Misconfigured NPM)

TLDR: Misconfigured NuGet, introduced in 2010 by Microsoft, can lead to vulnerabilities such as supply chain attacks, data leakage, and denial of service attacks. These issues stem from improper dependency management, weak access controls, and lack of package validation, violating several OWASP Top Ten principles, including Input Validation, Access Controls, and secure Policy Enforcement.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/nuget/what-is-nuget

Improper input validation for NuGet packages allows attackers to inject malicious dependencies into projects. Failing to verify package metadata or content enables exploitation. Adopting allowlists and validating package sources complies with OWASP Top Ten guidelines on secure Input Validation.

https://owasp.org/www-community/Input_Validation

Failing to secure access to private NuGet repositories can result in unauthorized publishing or modification of packages. Implementing strong Access Controls with multi-factor authentication prevents unauthorized actions, aligning with OWASP Top Ten's Access Management best practices.

https://owasp.org/www-community/Access_Control

Neglecting to update outdated NuGet packages leaves applications vulnerable to known exploits. Automating updates and enabling alerts for vulnerable components ensures dependencies remain secure, adhering to OWASP Top Ten's proactive monitoring recommendations.

https://owasp.org/www-project-dependency-check/

Unrestricted use of public NuGet repositories without validation exposes projects to supply chain attacks. Restricting dependencies to trusted sources through allowlists aligns with OWASP Top Ten's Policy Enforcement principles.

https://owasp.org/www-community/OWASP_API_Security_Project

Logging unredacted package details, such as API keys or credentials, during NuGet operations increases the risk of data leakage. Adopting secure Logging practices, including masking sensitive fields, ensures compliance with OWASP Top Ten's monitoring and auditing standards.

https://owasp.org/www-community/Logging_and_Monitoring_Cheat_Sheet

Over-reliance on NuGet's Framework Defaults can result in permissive dependency resolution, such as allowing transitive dependencies without validation. Customizing settings to enforce strict dependency management aligns with OWASP Top Ten's secure Framework Defaults practices.

https://owasp.org/www-community/Framework_Security_Project

Excessive use of NuGet dependencies without limiting package size or complexity can lead to denial of service attacks. Implementing resource constraints during dependency resolution prevents exploitation, adhering to OWASP Top Ten's resource management recommendations.

https://owasp.org/www-community/Denial_of_Service

Failing to validate cryptographic signatures of NuGet packages increases the risk of installing tampered dependencies. Enforcing signature validation during installation aligns with OWASP Top Ten's Data Encryption best practices.

https://owasp.org/www-community/Data_Encryption

Lack of segregation between development and production environments during NuGet package installation can allow unverified dependencies to reach production. Adopting environment-specific dependency policies ensures alignment with OWASP Top Ten operational standards.

https://owasp.org/www-community/OWASP_Proactive_Controls

Finally, neglecting to sandbox the execution of scripts in NuGet packages can lead to remote code execution (RCE) if a malicious script is executed. Isolating package execution environments ensures compliance with OWASP Top Ten's secure resource management principles.

https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/Code_Injection