Misconfigured Sanitization
TLDR: Misconfigured sanitization of user input can expose applications to security vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, XSS, and command injection attacks. Issues like incomplete or improperly implemented sanitization routines allow malicious input to bypass defenses, compromising application integrity and user data. Input sanitization, a cornerstone of secure coding practices, has been emphasized since the early 2000s as part of web security best practices.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Input_validation
One common issue with misconfigured sanitization is relying on client-side validation without enforcing it on the server. Malicious users can easily bypass client-side checks by directly interacting with APIs or manipulating HTTP requests. Another frequent problem is failing to sanitize input fields comprehensively, such as neglecting hidden fields, file uploads, or query parameters. These omissions provide attackers with opportunities to inject harmful payloads into the application.
https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/
To address these risks, developers should implement robust server-side input validation and sanitization using libraries like OWASP ESAPI or built-in frameworks for popular languages like Python or Java. Adopting a whitelist approach—allowing only known safe values—and encoding output to prevent XSS further enhances security. Regular testing with tools like Burp Suite or automated static analysis ensures sanitization routines are effective and up-to-date against evolving threats.