One thing I would repeat in the docs here is what information actually comes from the user. Many people think a Cookie, since it's written by PHP, was safe. But the fact is that it's stored on the user's computer, transferred by the user's browser, and thus very easy to manipulate.
So, it'd be handy to mention here again that:
CGI parameters in the URL, HTTP POST data and cookie variables are considered "user data" and thus need to be validated. Session data and SQL database contents only need to be validated if they came from untrustworthy sources (like the ones just mentioned).
Not new, but I would have expected this info under this headline, at least as a short recap plus linlk to the actual docs.
User Submitted Data
The greatest weakness in many PHP programs is not inherent in the language itself, but merely an issue of code not being written with security in mind. For this reason, you should always take the time to consider the implications of a given piece of code, to ascertain the possible damage if an unexpected variable is submitted to it.
Example #1 Dangerous Variable Usage
<?php
// remove a file from the user's home directory... or maybe
// somebody else's?
unlink ($evil_var);
// Write logging of their access... or maybe an /etc/passwd entry?
fwrite ($fp, $evil_var);
// Execute something trivial.. or rm -rf *?
system ($evil_var);
exec ($evil_var);
?>
You should always carefully examine your code to make sure that any variables being submitted from a web browser are being properly checked, and ask yourself the following questions:
- Will this script only affect the intended files?
- Can unusual or undesirable data be acted upon?
- Can this script be used in unintended ways?
- Can this be used in conjunction with other scripts in a negative manner?
- Will any transactions be adequately logged?
By adequately asking these questions while writing the script, rather than later, you prevent an unfortunate re-write when you need to increase your security. By starting out with this mindset, you won't guarantee the security of your system, but you can help improve it.
You may also want to consider turning off register_globals, magic_quotes, or other convenience settings which may confuse you as to the validity, source, or value of a given variable. Working with PHP in error_reporting(E_ALL) mode can also help warn you about variables being used before they are checked or initialized (so you can prevent unusual data from being operated upon).
add a note
User Contributed Notes 3 notes
Uli Kusterer ¶
7 years ago
ffmandu13 at hotmail dot com ¶
4 years ago
Hi,
Just one little class I made to control user's submitted datas, I thought it could help some people with security.
And if anyone wants to improve it, I'd be glad you do so.
<?php
/**
* This program is under GNU GPL license.
*
* You can contact the author of this program at <ffmandu13@hotmail.com/>.
*/
//Defined regexps (you can add your own ones).
define('REG_DATE' , '([[:digit:]]{4})-([[:digit:]]{2})-([[:digit:]]{2})');
define('REG_DIGIT_SIGNED' , '^[-[:digit:]]+$');
define('REG_DIGIT_UNSIGNED', '^[[:digit:]]+$');
define('REG_PASSWORD' , '^[[:alnum:]]+$');
define('REG_TEXT' , '[[:graph:][:blank:]]+');
define('REG_WORD' , '^[[:alpha:]]+$');
//Controls contents of the $_REQUEST variable.
final class checkVar{
private $tmp; //Secured value of a $_REQUEST key.
//Check if the variable is set.
private function isSet(&$field){
if(!isset($_REQUEST[$field]))
throw new Exception("You forgot to fill the $field field.");
else
return true;
}
//Set $tmp and remove threatening characters.
private function removeCharsThreats(&$field){
$this->tmp = trim($_REQUEST[$field]);
$this->tmp = htmlspecialchars($_REQUEST[$field], ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8', false);
}
//Checks if the value is equal to 1.
public function securityBool($field){
if($this->isSet($field) && $_REQUEST[$field] != 1)
throw new Exception("Unallowed value in $field field.");
else
return true;
}
//Checks if the value is in the allowed ones list ($enum).
public function securityEnum($field, $enum){
if($this->isSet($field)){
$this->removeCharsThreats($field);
$tab = explode(',', $enum);
if(!in_array($this->tmp, $tab))
throw new Exception("Unallowed value in $field field.");
else
return (string) $this->tmp;
}
}
//Checks if the value is a numeric one and if it is in the given range.
public function securityRange($field, $range){
if($this->isSet($field)){
$this->removeCharsThreats($field);
$tab = explode('/', $range);
if(!is_numeric($this->tmp))
throw new Exception("Unallowed characters in $field field.");
elseif($this->tmp < $tab[0] || $this->tmp > $tab[1])
throw new Exception('Value must be in range '.$tab[0].'/'.$tab[1]." in $field field.");
else
return (int) $this->tmp;
}
}
/**
* Checks if the value respects the defined regexp,
* and if its length is not superior than the given maxlength.
*/
public function securityText($field, $maxlength, $regexp){
if($this->isSet($field)){
$this->removeCharsThreats($field);
if(!mb_ereg($regexp, $this->tmp))
throw new Exception("Unallowed characters in $field field.");
elseif(mb_strlen($this->tmp, ENCODING) > $maxlength)
throw new Exception("Too long string length for $field field.");
else
return $this->tmp;
}
}
}
?>
Here are some examples of how to use the public methods.
<?php
$checkVar = new checkVar();
$args = array();
//If $_REQUEST['bbexport'] is not equal to 1, throws a new Exception.
$args['bbexport'] = $checkVar->securityBool('bbexport');
//If $_REQUEST['id'] is not an unsigned integer and/or has more than 4 digits, throws a new Exception.
$args['id'] = (int) $checkVar->securityText('id', 4, REG_DIGIT_UNSIGNED);
//If $_REQUEST['orderBy'] is not equal to 'date' or 'id' or 'name', throws a new Exception.
$args['orderBy'] = $checkVar->securityEnum('orderBy', 'date,id,name');
//If $_REQUEST['ratio'] is not a numeric value (integer or float) and is not between 0 and 10, throws a new Exception.
$args['ratio'] = $checkVar->securityRange('ratio', '0/10');
?>
Livingstone@stonyhills[dot]com ¶
5 years ago
making sure your form is submitted from your page! Could also be adapted to url, by additing &token to the query string and checking this against session data(or what ever array you like) with $_GET, not that this string is randomly generated and stored. If you like you could build your own array to store the generated string if you dont want to use $_SESSION, say you could make yours like $tokens = array(), and in your easysecure class you store all the stuff in that array!
<?php
class easysecure {
var $curr_user;
var $curr_permission;
var $curr_task;
var $validpermission;
var $error;
function &setVar( $name, $value=null ) {
if (!is_null( $value )) {
$this->$name = $value;
}
return $this->$name;
}
function maketoken($formname, $id){
$token = md5(uniqid(rand(), true));
$_SESSION[$formname.$id] = $token;
return $token;
}
function checktoken($token, $formname, $id){
//print_r($_SESSION);
//echo ($token);
//if we dont have a valid token, return invalid;
if(!$token){
$this->setVar('validpermission', 0);
$this->setVar('error', 'no token found, security bridgedetected');
return false;
}
//if we have a valid token check that is is valid
$key = $_SESSION[$formname.$id];
if($key !== $token ){
$this->setVar('validpermission', 0);
$this->setVar('error', 'invalid token');
return false;
}
if($this->validpermission !==1){
echo 'invalid Permissions to run this script';
return false;
}else{
return true;
}
}
}
?>
<?php $userid = *** //make it what ever id you like ?>
<form name="newform" action="index.php" method="post">
<input type="text" name="potentialeveilfield" value="" size 30 />
<input type="hidden" name="token" value="<?php echo maketoken(newform, $userid); //$userid here could be user profile id ?>" />
<input type="submit" />
</form>
Now when processing the form... check the value of your token
<?php
//well you know the form name
if(!checktoken($_POST['token'], 'newform', $userid))
{ //failed
exit(); //or what ever termination and notification method best suits you.
//you could also design the class your way to get more accurate fail (error messages from the var)
}
//you can now continue with input data clean up (validation)
?>