See also: Misconfigured gRPC, Misconfigured GraphQL

Return to Serialization Frameworks

Don't Return to Misconfigured Serialization Frameworks, Misconfigured Serialization Settings, Misconfigured Serialization Settings, Misconfigured Logging of Deserialization Errors

TLDR: Misconfigured Protocol Buffers, introduced by Google in 2008, can lead to vulnerabilities such as data tampering, denial of service attacks, and remote code execution (RCE). These issues often arise from insecure deserialization, weak schema validation, and improper data encryption, violating several OWASP Top Ten principles, including Input Validation, Access Controls, and Error Handling.

https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers

Improper input validation during the deserialization of Protocol Buffers can allow attackers to inject malicious payloads. For example, malicious data structures may bypass application logic, leading to data tampering or unauthorized access. Validating all serialized data complies with the OWASP Top Ten's focus on secure Input Validation.

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

Unrestricted deserialization of untrusted Protocol Buffers data can result in remote code execution. Attackers can exploit weak or missing validation to inject objects into deserialized data. Implementing strict allowlists for accepted data structures mitigates this risk and aligns with OWASP Top Ten's recommendations for secure deserialization.

https://owasp.org/www-community/vulnerabilities/Insecure_Deserialization

Failure to authenticate or authorize access to Protocol Buffers endpoints can lead to unauthorized modifications of schemas or data. Enforcing strong Access Controls and authentication mechanisms ensures only trusted sources can modify or access Protocol Buffers data, as per OWASP Top Ten guidelines.

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

Sensitive data embedded within serialized Protocol Buffers messages can be exposed if not encrypted properly. This violates the OWASP Top Ten's principles on Data Encryption. Ensuring encrypted transport (e.g., using TLS) and field-level encryption is critical to safeguarding sensitive information.

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

Excessively large or malformed Protocol Buffers messages can overwhelm parsing engines, leading to denial of service attacks. Limiting the size and complexity of serialized messages prevents resource exhaustion and adheres to OWASP Top Ten's best practices for resource management.

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

Neglecting Error Handling during the deserialization process may expose sensitive details such as schema paths or debug messages to attackers. Using generic error messages while logging critical details internally is a key principle of the OWASP Top Ten.

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

Relying on Framework Defaults without customization can leave applications vulnerable if these defaults prioritize performance over security. Developers should configure Protocol Buffers explicitly to meet their application's security needs, following OWASP Top Ten recommendations.

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

Integrating Protocol Buffers with API Endpoints without enforcing CORS or validating message sources can create cross-domain permissions vulnerabilities. Secure Policy Enforcement is crucial for preventing unauthorized access to serialized messages.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/CORS

Logging raw serialized data from Protocol Buffers without sanitization increases the risk of exposing sensitive information. Following secure Logging practices, such as encrypting sensitive logs and restricting access, ensures compliance with OWASP Top Ten principles.

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

Failing to regularly update or check dependencies for Protocol Buffers libraries can expose applications to vulnerabilities in outdated components. Utilizing alerts for vulnerable components and automated dependency checks ensures the integrity of Protocol Buffers libraries, as emphasized by the OWASP Top Ten.

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