MisterTootor M.S., B.S., A.S., A.S.B
How Cybersecurity actors can compromise Kotlin - Example Courtesy of ChatGPT
One common way cybersecurity actors can compromise Kotlin applications is through Insecure Deserialization or Injection Attacks (e.g., SQL Injection or Command Injection) due to insecure coding practices.​​​​​​
Here is a scenario of SQL a Injection in Kotlin Code while interacting with SQL queries
Kotlin
​
import java.sql.Connection
import java.sql.DriverManager
fun getUserDetails(username: String): String {
val connection: Connection = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/mydb", "user", "password")
val query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '$username'" // Vulnerable query
val statement = connection.createStatement()
val resultSet = statement.executeQuery(query)
return if (resultSet.next()) {
"User found: ${resultSet.getString("name")}"
} else {
"User not found"
}
}
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Malicious Input: An attacker enters the following input as the username:
SQL
​
' ' OR '1'='1
​
2. Injected Query: The application constructs the following SQL query:
SQL
​
SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '' OR '1'='1'
​
3. Result:
​
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The condition OR '1'='1' always evaluates to true, causing the query to return all user table rows.
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The attacker gains access to sensitive data or user information.
Exploit Consequences:
​
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Data Theft: Attackers can retrieve sensitive user data, including passwords, emails, or credit card numbers
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2. Authentication Bypass: If used in a login query, attackers can bypass authentication mechanisms.
​
3. Database Manipulation or Deletion: An attacker could execute destructive queries like:
SQL
​
'; DROP TABLE users; --
Mitigation:
1. Use Parameterized Queries (Prepared Statements): Always use parameterized queries to separate SQL logic from user input.
kotlin
​
fun getUserDetailsSecure(username: String): String {
val connection: Connection = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/mydb", "user", "password")
val query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?"
val preparedStatement = connection.prepareStatement(query)
preparedStatement.setString(1, username)
val resultSet = preparedStatement.executeQuery()
​
return if (resultSet.next()) {
"User found: ${resultSet.getString("name")}"
} else {
"User not found"
}
}
​​
2. Validate User Input: Ensure input meets specific criteria (e.g., regex validation) and reject suspicious characters like ' or ;.
​
3. Use ORM Frameworks: Use Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tools like Hibernate or Exposed, which abstract SQL queries and reduce the risk of injection.
​
4 . Implement Least Privilege: Configure the database user to have only the necessary permissions, avoiding destructive operations like DROP.
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5. Escape Output: When outputting user input in HTML or other formats, escape it to prevent injection in other contexts (e.g., XSS).