[Owasp-codereview] [Owasp-testing] Fwd: Code review Structure

Wed Jan 17 16:19:31 EST 2007

IMHO, I think if the guide is to have any worth, we need to be specific - general recommendations make a good opening section - but code quality is ultimately at the level of the code and the proper usage of the language in which that code was written.   I think, otherwise, we are talking about the items in a general sense that Jim outlined - it's good to know and reiterate "Input Validation" as a general term and broken access control examples in general terms, but I think it would also be helpful to include best practice recommendations.  For example, C++ code can use the strsafe.h functions (instead of the early more vulnerable functions, e.g. strcopy) or if using VS.NET use /clr:safe, you can compile with many restrictive security checks in place or whatever other components / libraries specific to the development environment.  I could list out many specific practices for each version of ASP.NET (C#, VB.NET, C++) / SQL Server, etc.  Another that comes to mind - in ADO.NET are we using datareaders and never closing the database connection, exposing the system to a DoS, even unintentionally?

I'm sorry to ramble, but I think it is important to maybe hit the Top 5 for each language / environment.  Just my .02.

Mark
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jim Manico 
  To: Andrew van der Stock 
  Cc: 'Mark Roxberry' ; Owasp-codereview at lists.owasp.org ; owasp-testing at lists.owasp.org ; 'Eoin' 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 3:50 PM
  Subject: Re: [Owasp-codereview] [Owasp-testing] Fwd: Code review Structure

  Noting that the LDAP server is unencrypted is part of a application infrastructure audit. Many very smart orginizations do this since encrypting LDAP is a HUUUUUGE hit, so they put LDAP in a private subnet and do a few other things to not have to encrypt LDAP. 

  99% of the time during an audit, there are no requirements docs to match against code. So as part of my audit, I both build the proper documentation for the app, and write the remediation/audit document. How can you audit business processes if there are not requirement's to match them against?

  When I do a code audit, I look for 3 main things: (And I'm doing mostly J2EE)

  1) Input Validation - like a religion, I check all input data from users, config files, databases even (output sanitization), headers - every piece of data entering a software system needs to be centrally validated.
  2) Authentication/Access control 
  3) Session Management (when its custom)
  4) Overall Code Quality

  Then I run all code through Fortify or FindBugs and use that to find low-hanging fruit.

  Manual review is clocking about 100 lines of code/hr when done with integrity, so most of my code reviews involve me creating large teams of auditors.

  Management always disagrees with me some, so I just document my opinions and findings CLEARLY to protect myself, and let management make the call. 

  - Jim

  Andrew van der Stock wrote: 
This is actually an important question which needs answering.

Personally, I code review in terms of business function as this is the
easiest way to demonstrate your value to your client. For example, if I tell
them that their LDAP server connection is unencrypted, so what? I instead
look at the use cases from the business requirements and ensure that they
are properly demonstrated in the code, and if as a side bar to that process,
I discover weaknesses, I will drop them in, so that:

* The user login process may allow attackers to view all credentials and
thus log in as anyone they want, including the LDAP manager. This destroys
any credibility of logs, transactions and may allow widespread destruction
or alteration of data.

Now the business has a reason to fix my finding as it¹s related to a
business process and asset they care about.

This is why I¹m not convinced its necessary to have language specific
chapters. Most of the information in those chapters applies will apply to
all languages / frameworks. You can always jump over examples you¹re not
interested in, or you can learn from the other language¹s issues to avoid
them in your own. 

Thanks,
Andrew

On 1/12/07 10:25 AM, "James Kist" <kist at meridiansecurity.net> wrote:

  What is the desired structure for the best practices section? How about
something like this:

Vulnerability (with a link to the section that describes the vulnerability)
Best practice 1 - Description (includes how and to what level the
vulnerability is addressed by this best practice)
Best practice 1 - Code example (if applicable)
Best practice 2 - Description
Best practice 2 - Code example (if applicable)

etc.

From: owasp-testing-bounces at lists.owasp.org
[mailto:owasp-testing-bounces at lists.owasp.org] On Behalf Of Eoin
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:45 AM
To: Mark Roxberry
Cc: Owasp-codereview at lists.owasp.org; owasp-testing at lists.owasp.org
Subject: Re: [Owasp-testing] Fwd: Code review Structure

Hi Mark,
i believe there is a design section but it has not been touched yet:

http://www.owasp.org/index.php/OWASP_Code_Review_Guide_Table_of_Contents

Designing for security (section).

You you consider putting a .NET design section within this.

Authoring the .NET best practice section would be great!! I'll put your name
beside it.
thanks,
Eoin

On 11/01/07, Mark Roxberry <me at markroxberry.net> wrote:

I'll do .NET Code Review Best Practices.

Can I include Design Guidance as a section?  Or maybe we need to  consider
Secure Application Design for an OWASP project (or do we have plans  for this
already)?  An example, in ASP.NET <http://asp.net/>  2.0, when do we
recommend using the  MembershipProviders and integrating with .NET framework
before rolling your  own access control system.  Design guidance would
outline the  scenarios for each security design.  What do you think?

I'll post a topic list by tomorrow.

Regards,

Mark

----- Original Message -----

From: Eoin <mailto:eoin.keary at owasp.org>

To: owasp-testing at lists.owasp.org  <mailto:owasp-testing at lists.owasp.org> ;
Owasp-codereview at lists.owasp.org

Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 10:47  AM

Subject: [Owasp-testing] Fwd: Code  review Structure

Hi,

Below is the current structure of the code review guide.

If anyone would like to take on a section (improve a section/add  more info)
please let me know and ill pen you in for it.

thanks,

Eoin

Methodology  
        Introduction  

Steps and  Roles

Code Review  Processes

Design review 
Designing for security

Examples by Vulnerability

        Buffer Overruns and  Overflows

OS Injection  

SQL Injection 

Data  Validation

Error Handling

Logging issues

The Secure Code  Environment

Transaction  Analysis

Authorization 

Authentication

Session  Integrity

Cross Site Request  Forgery

Cryptography  

Dangerous HTTP  Methods

Race  Conditions

Language specific best practice

Java  
        Inner  classes

Class  comparison

Cloneable  classes

Serializable  classes

Package scope and  encapsulation

Mutable  objects

Private methods &  circumvention

.NET  

PHP  

Automating Code Reviews
        Preface  

Reasons for using automated  tools

Education and cultural  change

Tool Deployment  Model

References  

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-- 
Best Regards,
Jim Manico
GIAC GSEC Professional, Sun Certified Java Programmer
jim at manico.net
808.652.3805

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