https://DevOpsCloud.io -- Cloud Monk Losang Jinpa, Ph.D., MCSE/MCT, GitOps DevOps Engineer

Return to Serialization Frameworks

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

TLDR: Misconfigured JSON, introduced in 2001 by Douglas Crockford, can lead to vulnerabilities such as data tampering, remote code execution (RCE), and data leakage. These risks often arise from weak input validation, improper data serialization and deserialization, and insecure configurations, violating several OWASP Top Ten principles, including Input Validation, Access Controls, and secure Error Handling.

https://www.json.org/json-en.html

Improper input validation in JSON parsing can allow attackers to inject malicious payloads or manipulate application logic. Unvalidated or unsanitized input may result in unauthorized actions or code injection. Strict validation of incoming JSON data aligns with the OWASP Top Ten's emphasis on Input Validation.

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

Unsecure deserialization of JSON data can lead to RCE. Attackers can exploit dynamic type resolution to inject malicious objects during deserialization. Adopting allowlists and disabling unsafe features during deserialization mitigates such risks, following OWASP Top Ten guidance.

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

Failing to implement proper authentication and Access Controls on JSON APIs can lead to unauthorized access and data tampering. Employing role-based permissions and validating all requests ensures compliance with OWASP Top Ten's access management standards.

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

Sensitive data, such as tokens or user credentials, can be exposed if serialized JSON is not encrypted. Ensuring encrypted transport with TLS and encrypting sensitive fields meets OWASP Top Ten recommendations on secure Data Encryption.

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

Inadequate Error Handling in JSON processing can inadvertently reveal sensitive application details, such as internal stack traces or schema information. Proper error suppression and generic messages in responses ensure adherence to the OWASP Top Ten's secure Error Handling principles.

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

Over-reliance on JSON Framework Defaults can leave applications vulnerable to known exploits. Customizing default behaviors, such as payload size limits and type validation, ensures secure processing, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten.

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

Logging raw JSON payloads without sanitization increases the risk of exposing sensitive information. Secure Logging practices, such as masking sensitive data and encrypting logs, are essential to comply with OWASP Top Ten's security standards.

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

Neglecting to monitor and update dependencies for JSON parsers or libraries can expose applications to vulnerabilities in outdated components. Regular dependency checking and using alerts for vulnerable components align with the OWASP Top Ten's best practices for secure dependency management.

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

Improper implementation of CORS policies for JSON APIs can result in unauthorized cross-domain access. Strict origin whitelisting and proper Policy Enforcement ensure secure communication between domains, as highlighted in OWASP Top Ten.

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

Failing to apply rate-limiting controls on JSON endpoints can expose APIs to denial of service attacks. Implementing Rate Limiting and query complexity analysis protects resources and aligns with OWASP Top Ten's recommendations for secure API management.

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