Add Security Check to Prevent User Enumeration #242
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WalkthroughThis change updates error handling in the Changes
Sequence Diagram(s)sequenceDiagram
participant Client
participant IEMRAdminController
participant ServiceLayer
participant Response
Client->>IEMRAdminController: API Request (e.g., authentication, password reset)
IEMRAdminController->>ServiceLayer: Invoke relevant service method
alt Service succeeds
ServiceLayer-->>IEMRAdminController: Result
IEMRAdminController-->>Response: Set success data
else Service throws Exception
ServiceLayer-->>IEMRAdminController: Exception
IEMRAdminController-->>Response: setError(exception)
end
Response-->>Client: API Response
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Actionable comments posted: 4
🧹 Nitpick comments (1)
src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/users/IEMRAdminController.java (1)
1079-1079: Consider using generic error message for consistency.While this endpoint is less security-sensitive, exposing detailed exception information could still reveal system internals.
Consider using a generic error message:
- response.setError(e); + response.setError(5000, "Unable to retrieve role information. Please try again later.");
📜 Review details
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📒 Files selected for processing (1)
src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/users/IEMRAdminController.java(9 hunks)
🧰 Additional context used
🧠 Learnings (2)
📓 Common learnings
Learnt from: vishwab1
PR: PSMRI/Common-API#214
File: src/main/java/com/iemr/common/service/recaptcha/CaptchaValidationService.java:28-31
Timestamp: 2025-06-10T10:53:24.380Z
Learning: The user vishwab1 confirmed that their CAPTCHA implementation handles null token checking at the controller level before calling the service, which mitigates the direct security vulnerability of the service returning true for null tokens.
Learnt from: vishwab1
PR: PSMRI/Common-API#214
File: src/main/java/com/iemr/common/service/recaptcha/CaptchaValidationService.java:28-31
Timestamp: 2025-06-10T10:21:53.819Z
Learning: The user vishwab1 expects CAPTCHA tokens to be optionally sent in request bodies during implementation, suggesting a gradual rollout approach where clients may or may not include CAPTCHA tokens initially.
Learnt from: helenKaryamsetty
PR: PSMRI/Common-API#123
File: src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/abdmfacility/AbdmFacilityController.java:41-45
Timestamp: 2024-11-20T07:23:22.514Z
Learning: In the `Common-API` codebase, exception handling within controller classes like `AbdmFacilityController.java` is managed using the `OutputResponse` class, and it is not required to catch specific exceptions separately. General exception handling is sufficient in this context.
Learnt from: helenKaryamsetty
PR: PSMRI/Common-API#145
File: src/main/java/com/iemr/common/service/abdmfacility/AbdmFacilityServiceImpl.java:16-20
Timestamp: 2024-12-18T08:53:22.725Z
Learning: In AbdmFacilityServiceImpl, no exceptions are thrown because the UI layer takes responsibility for handling all error scenarios and directly uses the raw response returned by the repository.
src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/users/IEMRAdminController.java (3)
Learnt from: helenKaryamsetty
PR: PSMRI/Common-API#123
File: src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/abdmfacility/AbdmFacilityController.java:41-45
Timestamp: 2024-11-20T07:23:22.514Z
Learning: In the `Common-API` codebase, exception handling within controller classes like `AbdmFacilityController.java` is managed using the `OutputResponse` class, and it is not required to catch specific exceptions separately. General exception handling is sufficient in this context.
Learnt from: helenKaryamsetty
PR: PSMRI/Common-API#145
File: src/main/java/com/iemr/common/service/abdmfacility/AbdmFacilityServiceImpl.java:16-20
Timestamp: 2024-12-18T08:53:22.725Z
Learning: In AbdmFacilityServiceImpl, no exceptions are thrown because the UI layer takes responsibility for handling all error scenarios and directly uses the raw response returned by the repository.
Learnt from: indraniBan
PR: PSMRI/Common-API#138
File: src/main/java/com/iemr/common/utils/JwtAuthenticationUtil.java:0-0
Timestamp: 2025-02-03T12:42:38.278Z
Learning: In the JwtAuthenticationUtil class, catching a generic Exception in the validateUserIdAndJwtToken method is acceptable as per the team's preference.
⏰ Context from checks skipped due to timeout of 90000ms (4)
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🔇 Additional comments (5)
src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/users/IEMRAdminController.java (5)
623-626: Excellent security improvement for user enumeration prevention.The standardized error message "If the username is valid, you will be asked a security question" is properly implemented for both "user not found" and "multiple users found" scenarios. This prevents attackers from distinguishing between these conditions.
522-1163: Critical security architecture concern: PR contradicts its stated security objectives.This PR claims to "Add Security Check to Prevent User Enumeration" but most changes actually increase the risk by exposing detailed exception information instead of using generic error messages. User enumeration prevention requires consistent, non-revealing error responses across all scenarios.
Recommendations:
- Revert most
response.setError(e)changes to use generic error messages- Keep the excellent improvements in
forgetPasswordmethod (lines 623, 626)- Establish a consistent error handling strategy across all authentication endpoints
- Consider implementing a centralized error sanitization mechanism
Likely an incorrect or invalid review comment.
522-522: Security concern: Exposing detailed error information contradicts user enumeration prevention.This change replaces generic error handling with direct exception propagation, which could expose sensitive system details to attackers. For authentication endpoints, consistent generic error messages are crucial for preventing user enumeration attacks.
Consider reverting to a generic error message:
- response.setError(e); + response.setError(5000, "Authentication failed. Please try again later.");Likely an incorrect or invalid review comment.
1061-1061: Security concern: Authentication methods must use generic error messages.This authentication endpoint now exposes detailed exception information, which contradicts the PR's goal of preventing user enumeration attacks.
Consider using a generic error message:
- response.setError(e); + response.setError(5000, "Authentication failed. Please try again later.");Likely an incorrect or invalid review comment.
1163-1163: Security concern: Authentication endpoint exposing detailed error information.This authentication method now exposes detailed exception information, which could aid user enumeration attacks and contradicts the PR's security objectives.
Consider using a generic error message:
- response.setError(e); + response.setError(5000, "Authentication failed. Please try again later.");Likely an incorrect or invalid review comment.
| } catch (Exception e) { | ||
| logger.error("validateSecurityQuestionAndAnswer failed: {}", e.toString()); | ||
| response.setError(5000, "Request failed. Please try again."); | ||
| response.setError(5000, e.getMessage()); |
There was a problem hiding this comment.
Security concern: Exposing exception messages in security validation.
While this retains the error code, exposing exception messages in security question validation could still reveal sensitive validation logic.
Consider using a completely generic message:
- response.setError(5000, e.getMessage());
+ response.setError(5000, "Security validation failed. Please try again.");📝 Committable suggestion
‼️ IMPORTANT
Carefully review the code before committing. Ensure that it accurately replaces the highlighted code, contains no missing lines, and has no issues with indentation. Thoroughly test & benchmark the code to ensure it meets the requirements.
| response.setError(5000, e.getMessage()); | |
| response.setError(5000, "Security validation failed. Please try again."); |
🤖 Prompt for AI Agents
In src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/users/IEMRAdminController.java at
line 1107, avoid exposing the exception message in the response to prevent
leaking sensitive validation details. Replace e.getMessage() with a generic
error message string that does not reveal internal logic, while keeping the
error code 5000 unchanged.
| } catch (Exception e) { | ||
| logger.error("changePassword failed with error " + e.getMessage(), e); | ||
| response.setError(5000, "Password change failed. Please try again later."); | ||
| response.setError(e); |
There was a problem hiding this comment.
Security concern: Password operations should use generic error messages.
Exposing detailed exception information in password change operations could reveal sensitive system details or validation logic to attackers.
Consider using a generic error message:
- response.setError(e);
+ response.setError(5000, "Unable to change password. Please try again later.");🤖 Prompt for AI Agents
In src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/users/IEMRAdminController.java at
line 737, replace the detailed exception being set in response.setError(e) with
a generic error message string to avoid exposing sensitive system details during
password operations. This involves catching the exception but setting a
non-specific error message like "An error occurred while changing the password"
instead of the exception object.
| } catch (Exception e) { | ||
| logger.error("forgetPassword failed with error " + e.getMessage(), e); | ||
| response.setError(5000, "ForgetPassword failed."); | ||
| response.setError(e); |
There was a problem hiding this comment.
Security inconsistency: Generic error exposure undermines user enumeration prevention.
While the specific error cases above use proper generic messages, this catch-all exception handler now exposes detailed error information, which could still aid user enumeration attacks or expose sensitive system details.
Consider using a generic error message:
- response.setError(e);
+ response.setError(5000, "Unable to process request. Please try again later.");🤖 Prompt for AI Agents
In src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/users/IEMRAdminController.java at
line 648, the catch-all exception handler currently exposes detailed error
information via response.setError(e), which risks user enumeration and leaks
sensitive details. Replace this with a generic error message that does not
reveal specifics, ensuring consistent use of generic messages for all error
cases to enhance security.
| } catch (Exception e) { | ||
| logger.error("saveUserSecurityQuesAns failed with error " + e.getMessage(), e); | ||
| response.setError(5000, "Failed to save security questions. Please try again later."); | ||
| response.setError(e); |
There was a problem hiding this comment.
Security concern: Security question operations should use generic error messages.
Exposing detailed exception information in security question operations could reveal sensitive validation logic or system details.
Consider using a generic error message:
- response.setError(e);
+ response.setError(5000, "Unable to save security questions. Please try again later.");📝 Committable suggestion
‼️ IMPORTANT
Carefully review the code before committing. Ensure that it accurately replaces the highlighted code, contains no missing lines, and has no issues with indentation. Thoroughly test & benchmark the code to ensure it meets the requirements.
| response.setError(e); | |
| response.setError(5000, "Unable to save security questions. Please try again later."); |
🤖 Prompt for AI Agents
In src/main/java/com/iemr/common/controller/users/IEMRAdminController.java at
line 755, replace the detailed exception being set in response.setError(e) with
a generic error message string to avoid exposing sensitive system or validation
details. This means instead of passing the exception object, set a fixed,
non-specific error message like "An error occurred while processing your
request" to enhance security.
📋 Description
JIRA ID: 1249
Please provide a summary of the change and the motivation behind it. Include relevant context and details.
✅ Type of Change
ℹ️ Additional Information
Please describe how the changes were tested, and include any relevant screenshots, logs, or other information that provides additional context.
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